Resolving the complexity of land mobilisation issues in Papua New Guinea

Abstract

There is a growing conviction that problems associated with land mobilisation and development are at the heart of Papua New Guinea?s economic woes. Approximately 97 per cent of the land is regarded as subject to customary ownership. There are fundamentally two aspects to this reality?most customary land is unformalised and unregistered, and group ownership engenders conflicting claims over use. This paper argues that both these aspects are fundamental impediments to land mobilisation and economic development, and that individualisation of title is needed before substantive economic progress can be expected.