Centre for Land Tenure Studies 2021 Annual Report

Abstract

The work of the Centre for Land Tenure Studies (CLTS) in 2021 included 6 working papers and 18 peer reviewed journal articles. The CLTS papers and reports are accessible through the CLTS webpage, the Scandinavian Working Papers in Economics (S-WoPEc), the library (Brage) of the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), and the Land Portal webpage (see: https://landportal.org/organization/centre-land-tenure-studies). In addition to these access points, Econstor also started registering and distributing information about the CLTS publications in 2021 (see: https://www.econstor.eu/handle/10419/242695). The CLTS also published three books in print.

Statistics on visibility show a slight downward trend in both abstract views and paper downloads in 2021 compared to 2020. The abstract views were reduced by an average of 19 percent while paper downloads were reduced by 25 percent. In the previous annual report (2019-2020), statistics showed an increase in abstract views and a decrease in paper downloads by 25 percent. Assessing the long-term trend, therefore, shows an increasing trend in abstract views since 2012 but a slightly downward trend in paper downloads.

With COVID-19, most conferences were held online. The CLTS members participated in the International Conference of Agricultural Economists (ICAE) 31st Triennial virtual meeting held from 17th to 31st August 2021. Three CLTS related papers were presented. Another paper was presented in an online session for the International Academic Association on Planning, Law and Property Rights.

The faculties working on CLTS related work also reported several activities. The School of Economics and Business graduated two PhD students, who worked on land related studies. The School was also involved in several projects supported by the Research Council of Norway and NORHEAD II. In LANDSAM, the Department of Property and Law is involved in projects focusing on (1) rules, norms, and cooperation in outlying grazing areas, and (2) the Planning and Building Act between demand, land policy and sustainability. The Department of Property and Law also graduated one PhD who worked on “Cadastral records of cases conducted by the land consolidation court”. Again, under LANDSAM, Noragric and Byreg departments collaborated on an NFR research application focusing on sustainable recreation around the Oslo Fjord. In MINA, the Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management worked on a collaborative project that represents a multidisciplinary approach to diagnosing and improving policy and management decisions for dry forestland and resources in the face of climate change. Two PhD students are working in the project since August 2021.