Land administration options for projects involving payments for carbon sequestration

This paper outlines the potential role and requirements for land administration in the context of payments for environmental services (PES) as part of climate change mitigation projects. The discussion covers the potential land issues on PES schemes operating in settings with legal pluralism and overlapping and conflicting claims and use of land, the land tenure information required for projects related to carbon sequestration, be it through reforestation, afforestation or preventing of deforestation or forest degradation, or even improved agricultural land use, and the land administration options available. The requirements for carbon accounting are discussed and three case studies are explored to consider how beneficiaries are determined and property rights recorded during the project implementation. A review of innovative land administration practices and tools is instructive in considering which approaches may be applied to PES projects. The discussion considers the range of alternatives available for recording and certifying property rights on private, state and communal land, including in situations where rights to land and other resources overlap spatially or temporarily, and where social tenures exist. The authors conclude that protecting the property rights of project beneficiaries is a critical component of PES projects, be it at an individual or community level. Elements of existing approaches to recording rights on private, state and customary lands are suitable for implementation on such projects. It is desirable that land administration forms an integral part of an integrated system for carbon accounting and reporting and the implementation of PES projects. Experience shows that decentralized land administration and effective community consultation are key elements to the protection of property rights, and that a significant investment in capacity building of land administration and customary agencies is required to improve sustainability, to reduce the likelihood that PES schemes will be at the detriment of vulnerable groups or whole local communities