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Formalizing Property Rights in Colombia
Published 08/09/2013 by Global Communities
Formalizing Property Rights in Colombia
Farmers receiving the formal titles to their land.
Montes de Maria is a mountainous and isolated region located near the northern coast of Colombia. Due to its strategic location and wealth of natural resources, Montes de Maria was the target of many territorial disputes and armed struggles during Colombia’s protracted civil conflict. The heavy presence of paramilitaries in the region established a reign of terror, driving out social organizations and displacing many people from their land.
With more than half the population displaced during those chaotic years, helping communities to rebuilding their lives and livelihoods has been a slow and challenging process. A key first step in that process is helping displaced landowners gain formal title to their property. Possessing formal land titles helps improve the quality of life for rural residents. It increases opportunities for access to financial services because the land can be used as collateral for loans, or as credit for seeds and tools. It also motivates farmers to make long-term investments and improvements, while fostering a sense of ownership and stake in the larger community.
Through the USAID-funded Colombia Responde program, Global Communities is working with the Government of Colombia to promote the formalization of land tenure to enhance rural development. Since 2011, Colombia Responde has implemented strategies to encourage the formalization of rural property and strengthen the capacity of institutions in charge of land issues including the Land Restitution Units and the Colombian Institute for Rural Development (INCODER). Colombia Responde completed a historical assessment of property rights that highlighted the land tenure situation in the region. Finding high levels of informal land ownership, the program supported the development of “Rights Reports” in the municipalities of El Carmen de Bolivar, Ovejas, San Jacinto and San Onofre. As a consequence, these municipalities were able to approve the required measures for land protection in rural areas.
While the formalization of property rights entails lengthy administrative and judicial processes, over the last year, Colombia Responde has supported the formalization of 5,736 hectares in the region. The following table shows that this process has so far benefited 271 families in the four municipalities. Further, Colombia Responde is supporting the formalization of other 2,648 hectares that will benefit 674 families.
Property
# of beneficieries
# of hectares
Municipality
Mechanisms
Registered and Formalized
Zuñiga y La Bonga
26
544
San Onofre
Registration and property adjudication
Yes
Los Andes
19
1.410
Ovejas
Registration
Yes
El Tolima
10
94
Ovejas
Division of the property and registration
Yes
Santa fé
16
924
Ovejas
Division of the property and registration
Yes
La Chavela
16
282
Ovejas
Liquidate the succession
Yes
El Corozo
16
135
Ovejas
Registration
Yes
El Peñón
23
125
San Onofre
Registration and property adjudication
Yes
La Fuente
12
255
Carmen de Bolívar
Property adjudication
In registration process
Sanmarcanda
19
290
Carmen de Bolívar
Property adjudication
In registration process
El Deseo
13
325
Carmen de Bolívar
Property adjudication
In registration process
Tierra Santa
25
315
Carmen de Bolívar
Property adjudication
In registration process
San Jose
14
245
Carmen de Bolívar
Property adjudication
In registration process
Las Mercedes
11
188
San Jacinto
Registration and property adjudication
Yes
El Coco
32
160
San Jacinto
Registration and property adjudication
Yes
El Carare
15
435
Carmen de Bolívar
Registration and property adjudication
Yes
San Rafael
4
36
Carmen de Bolívar
Registration and property adjudication
Yes
Total: 16
271
5763