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Communal land is a (mostly rural) territory in possession of a community, rather than an individual or company.[citation needed] This sort of arrangement existed in almost all Europe until the 18th century, by which the king or the church officially owned the land, but allowed the peasants to work in them in exchange for a levy. These institutions still survive today inSwitzerland andSardinia.
This system has also existed in Africa, Asia and America, and in some parts has persisted until today. A group or culture historically owns a piece of land and distributes it among its members, through the relevant authority. The good management of this land is veiled by the group itself, which can revoke the right of use to a farmer if this one is using it badly or for the wrong means.
The concept of communal land does not meet well with modern-day law, which is based onprivate property, so these territories more often than not are without a legal owner, which in law means it is property of the state. This has opened the door to cases ofland grabbing by corporations, which has been the source of many conflicts and strife.
The termcommunal land inZimbabwe refers to certain rural areas within the country. Communal lands were formerly calledTribal Trust Lands (TTLs).Subsistence farming and small scale commercial farming are the principal economic activities in communal lands, there is usually limited additional employment apart from in agrowth point and with jobs liketeaching. Some communal lands have highpopulation densities, and as a consequenceovergrazing by cattle and goats andsoil erosion can occur. The farms of communal lands are traditionally unfenced. Communal lands have resident traditional AfricanChiefs. Many communal lands are at a lowerelevation than the richer commercial farms, and consequently experience higheraverage temperatures, and lowerrainfall levels.[1] Since independence, in communal lands, schools have been established and expanded, roads tarred, andelectrification has spread. In recent years though, thisdevelopment has slowed.[citation needed]
InMexico communal land is known as theejido. (see also theChiapas conflict)
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