Traditional Land and Collective Management Systems in New Caledonia North Province

Abstract

"The authors analyse the difficulties for local management and reclamation of Kanak native and collective land in New Caledonia, which relate to the evolution of the territorial, political and economical context. This research is based on field surveys and interviews that were undertaken in 2000 and 2001 in order to assess Collective Land Use and Improvement Operations (OGAF). Based on available literature, the first part of the paper reviews the successive land status in New Caledonia and its implications for what is called today 'native land rights'. The recent Nouméa Agreement (1999) has actually brought a new component by recognising a 'native land system'. If this provides the Kanak native authorities with new responsibilities in the field of land management, it also stresses the need for new tools to be implemented during the transition period. The second part of the paper presents the main problems related to the native and collective common lands management. Part of these problems comes from the previous land attributions (1978-1998) which were initiated through a political compromise with European population. They were subject to productive or collective management requirements, which don't always fit with Kanak practices or traditions. New tools and approaches to face this complex situation are proposed in the third part. They rely on the negotiation and the formulation of rules that take into account Kanak practices and socio-economical logic. They aim at building-up an interface with the economical development dynamic of the whole territory, every day more embedded in a global economy."