The Cadastral “Tool Box” – a Framework for Reform

Cadastres are a core component of land administration systems and an important infrastructure which facilitates the implementation of land use policies. While most cadastral systems traditionally have a primary objective of supporting the operation of land markets, they increasingly play a key role in a broader land administration infrastructure which supports economic development, environmental management and social stability in both developed and developing countries. In this context, this paper outlines the concept of a cadastral “tool box” which allows states or jurisdictions to undertake cadastral reform by selecting the most appropriate land policies, legal concepts, institutional arrangements and technical solutions. In this paper a reference to land administration is also a reference to the cadastre which is the central component of a land administration system. In developing the cadastral “tool box”, the paper reviews the three dimensions of a land administration system. Firstly the wide range of humankind to land relationships within any state or jurisdiction which require different cadastral strategies for each relationship. Secondly these humankind to land relationships and the resulting cadastral responses are dynamic and are continually evolving. Lastly countries are at different stages of development and as a result require different strategies and consequently different components from the cadastral “tool box” in order to serve their needs. This paper focuses on the needs of the urban poor regarding access to land and security of tenure however the concepts are equally applicable to non urban areas.