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The Customary Land Rights Act, no. 20 of 2022.

Country/Territory
Sierra Leone
Document type
Legislation
Date
2022
Source
FAO, FAOLEX
Original source
Sierra Leone Extraordinary Gazette no. 69 of 2022.
Subject
Environment gen., Food & nutrition, Forestry, Land & soil, Water, Wild species & ecosystems
Keyword
Air quality/air pollution Farming Mining Noise pollution Soil pollution/quality Wetlands Protection of environment Pollution control Food security Forestry protection measures Grazing Timber extraction/logging Forest management/forest conservation Common property Liability/compensation Resource/damage valuation Gender Land commission Land tenure Land-use planning Land valuation Lease Protected area Public land Right of use Sustainable use Use restrictions Traditional rights/customary rights Surface water Ecosystem preservation Protection of habitats Protection of species
Geographical area
Africa, Least Developed Countries, North Atlantic, Western Africa
Abstract

This Act, divided into ten Parts and consisting of 48 articles, provides for the protection of customary land rights, the elimination of discrimination under customary law and the management and administration of any land subject to customary law, the definition of community land. The Act covers the following matters: right to acquire land; elimination of discrimination concerning gender, tribe, religion, social and economic conditions, ethnicity and ensuring accountability and transparency in the allocation and management of the land rights; family land title; community land and public land; protected, conserved and ecologically sensitive areas, including: protection from degradation of wetlands, wildlife habitats, virgin forests; prohibited activities in ecologically sensitive areas, including: mining, farming and plantation; additional sanctions in case of harm to ecologically sensitive areas; use of land adjacent to natural resources, such as forests grazing lands, rivers and swamps and related sustainable use of these resources, including their extraction and cutting timber; responsible investment and leasing, including registration of land, prohibition of investment in protected areas, common resources, compensation for loss of crops, survey of land; procedures for avoiding displacement and resettlement of a community; land tenure disputes; miscellaneous provisions concerning amendments of previous acts. Attached schedules concern: terms to acquire additional land; terms of a lease agreement, including: expected use of natural resources, expected environmental impacts on soil, water, air, plant and animal species, protection against damage to the community’s ecosystem and the environment, minimising water, air, soil, noise pollution, impacts on welfare and food security.

Full text
English

References - Legislation

Amends

Mines and Minerals Act, 2009 (No. 12 of 2009).

Legislation | Sierra Leone | 2009

Keyword: Lease, Access right, Expropriation, Basic legislation, Mining, Exploration, EIA, Soil pollution/quality, Soil rehabilitation, Authorization/permit, Sustainable use, Water abstraction

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Implemented by

The Customary Land Rights Regulations, Statutory Instrument no. 12 of 2023.

Legislation | Sierra Leone | 2023

Keyword: Forest management/forest conservation, Forestry protection measures, Timber extraction/logging, Community management, Contract/agreement, Traditional rights/customary rights, Dispute settlement, Foreign land tenure, Land tenure, Land-use planning, Lease, Offences/penalties, Registration, Standards, Mining, Farming, Agricultural development, Effluent waste water/discharge, Pollution control, Freshwater pollution, Ecosystem preservation, Protection of habitats, Wetlands

Source: FAO, FAOLEX