Identifying barriers to GIS-based land management in Guatemala

Abstract

The development of a cadastral system for the Republic of Guatemala was one of the priorities of the 1997 Peace Accord which ended 30 years of civil war. In response to uncertainty about land ownership and land titles, the development of a national cadastre, the equitable distribution of land, and transparent records of land tenancy are viewed as key to maintaining peace in Guatemala. This article addresses the most significant barriers to developing a National Land Information System to support cadastral reform. Interviews with government agencies indicate that, although technical improvements can be readily implemented, social problems and governance factors seriously hinder the completion of the cadastral process. These findings are discussed in the light of international aid and development policy.

Keywords:

• Aid
• Governance and public policy
• Labour and livelihoods
• Latin America and the Caribbean
• Rights
• Technology

Acknowledgements

This project was funded by the National Science Foundation IGERT in Geographic Information Science Program, National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis (NCGIA), the University at Buffalo, and the State University of New York (NSF Grant #DGE-9870668).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Christopher A. Badurek

Christopher A. Badurek is an Assistant Professor of Geography and Planning at Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, USA. His research focuses on the development and social impacts of geographic information systems (GIS) and spatial databases, particularly for urban and regional applications in Latin America.