The Development of Sago Property Rights System Among the Punan Vuhang Hunter-Gatherers

Abstract

"This study examines the development of the community's use of resources in a tropical rainforest using resource tenure as a lens. In particular I look at impacts of sedentarization and the modern cash economy on property rights in land and trees. All resources even staple foods are allocated with private and common property. The adoption of cultivation has changed the value of various resources. Land and construction materials have become items of extremely high value; sago, the staple food, has become less important with the availability of cultivated food. How the private and common private property rights for various resources are thus discussed."