Our interest is to learn how to incorporate customary rights and claims into formal spatial planning processes. Through this project the programme seeks to answer the following questions:

• What tools and institutions are needed to achieve integrated spatial planning?
• What experience has already been gained with the recognition of customary rights in different districts, and how has this impacted on spatial planning processes?
• Has recognition of such rights really led to a reduction of conflict and better livelihood outcomes for the community?
• Is it possible to incorporate customary rights into planning mechanisms in other ways, for instance through application of the High Conservation Value Forest (HCVF) approach or collaborative planning of production forest and conservation forest area?
• Are similar mechanisms operational when planning forest conversion (palm oil, industrial plantations)?
• What are the experiences with integrated land use and spatial planning?
• What traditional land use systems and usufruct rights still exist and how are these linked to livelihood strategies in communities?
• How do various districts deal with communal land claims in their legal and institutional frameworks?
• Do forest management practices by communities with strong traditional systems and guaranteed usufruct rights lead to better livelihood and conservation outcomes?

Specific objective
Customary and traditional land rights and claims are appropriately addressed in formal spatial planning processes at district and provincial levels and in forest investment processes.

Duration
3 years

Expected outcomes
PhD degree and dissertation, a policy brief, publications and improved capacity of FORDA staff.

Implementing partners

	Forestry Research and Development Agency (FORDA)
	International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC)
	Institut Pertanian Bogor (Bogor Agriculture University)