In discussing the economic value of customary land in Papua New Guinea, we must recognise the ongoing polemic over land use. Much of this debate is driven by special interest groups seeking access to customary land. Customary landowners in Papua New Guinea, on the other hand, have been mostly well served by their system of custodianship. The practical question, however, is whether small-scale landowners are able to pursue the best income-generating opportunities while holding onto the various social and subsistence advantages provided by their customary lands? This paper suggests that they can.
2006 On the economic value of customary land in Papua New Guinea PDF
Pacific Economic Bulletin, 21(1)