Verona, Italy, was the meeting point for two FIG events held from 9th to 15th September 2008. One was the International Seminar on State and Public Land Management, organised by FIG Commission 7 (Cadastre & Land Management) and the Consiglio Nazionale Geometri e Geometri Laureati (CNGeGL) in co-operation with FIG Commission 9 (Valuation & Management of Real Estate) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) Land Tenure and Management Unit. The Seminar was followed by the Annual Meeting of FIG Commission 7, organised in close co-operation with CNGeGL. Both events attracted land professionals from all over the world.
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Seminar ?
The international seminar aimed at helping raise global awareness of problems associated with state/public land and its management, improving knowledge of good practices in this area, and encouraging the addressing of these in new development initiatives. Stig Enemark gave an introductory speech on the work of FIG in this area, and Mika Törhönen on the work of FAO. Willi Zimmermann stated in one of the sessions that 37% of the planet was now ‘owned’ by around 147 states, and 21% of the planet by 26 monarchs holding ultimate ownership. There were no contributions from the latter states. Furthermore, it was observed that poor governance of public lands disproportionately affected the poor. There is a need for pro-poor policy on public land because of the dependence of the rural poor upon such land.
Case studies were presented in terms of experience. State land delivered public services that individuals could not provide for themselves. State land management could be improved by technical means and by good governance in land administration: legitimate, responsive, accountable, representative, transparent, equitable, consistent and impartial, participatory and dedicated to integrity. This is in fact a political and social issue: it is about power relationships. Guidelines in relation to this subject will be published in the very near future by FAO.?
Annual Meeting ?
This Annual Meeting has a long history and is in fact the only worldwide forum for land administrators and land professionals. FIG President Enemark highlighted the fact that surveyors had an important role in achieving the Millenium Development Goals. Land administration supported the Global Agenda, global partnerships were continually undergoing further development. Many subjects were under discussion, such as knowledge sharing and networking, which is most important for developing countries. Surveyors contributed to land management. In developing countries massive land titling programmes and land-administration projects failed in many cases to realise social objectives. Collaborative and participatory approaches were needed, as was more attention for the development of rural areas. New land tools were required, such as the Social Tenure Domain Model. The impact of e-Governance, e-Conveyancing, e-Land Administration and many other complex e-Areas was discussed, especially in respect of changes in processes, existing power structures in land administration, and ongoing business during implementation. The annual meeting, as is traditional, was combined with an open symposium, this time on Environment and Land Administration ‘Big Works for the Defence of the Territory’.
Commission chair András Osskó is able to look back upon two successful events, with thanks to our Italian colleagues for their excellent organisation. Verona is Passion!
?Richard Grover and Christiaan Lemmen
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