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Publication: In Defence of Melanesian Customary Land
Date published: 10 Apr 10
This AID/WATCH publication presents Melanesian and Australian voices in defence of Melanesian customary land. The chapters touch on the broad themes of customary land in the region, as well as particular issues in Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu. Those issues include land tenure conversion, incorporated land groups, leases, the productive value of customary land, women and land, land tenure reform programs, and the social security features of traditional land tenure systems.
Click here to listen to Radio Australia interview with co-editor Tim Anderson (April 2010)
Click here to read a review published in Pacific Currents, eJournal of the Australian Association for the Advancement of Pacific Studies
Click here to download the full report
Hard copies are $10 (including postage in Australia) and $15 (including postage outside of Australia)
To order a hard copy download and complete this order form and email it to info[at]aidwatch.org.au or fax: +61 2 9557 9822
To download individual chapters click the links below
Introduction: Understanding Melanesian customary land
By Tim Anderson and Gary Lee
By Steven Sukot
Land registration, land markets and livelihoods in Papua New Guinea
By Tim Anderson
Incorporated land groups and the registration of customary lands: Recent developments in PNG
By Almah Tararia and Lisa Ogle
Women in patrilineal and matrilineal societies in Melanesia
By Rosa Koian
The traditional economy as source of resilience in Vanuatu
By Ralph Regenvanu
Hijacking development futures: “Land development” and reform in Vanuatu
By Lara Daley
Land and the traditional economy: “Your money, my life”
Hu i Kakae long basket blong laef?
By Joel Simo
