Land Governance and Environmental Management in the MENA Region

Abstract

The importance of governance arrangements for access, use and control of
land and resources is being increasingly recognized by international
institutions. This paper overviews land governance initiatives being promoted
by UN Habitat, and the growing importance of rapidly developing geospatial technologies. The paper next addresses land governance issues in the
MENA region, particularly the Arab Land Governance initiative, and
presents a brief case study of Oman’s land governance, and its effects upon
society, urban settlement patterns, and land markets. Issues of education and
training for better land governance are discussed. Recommendations and
conclusions address the issues and ways forward for the region.