Boundaries around the globe between countries and other legal entities are constantly in a state of change. Contrary to the widely held view that most countries are well surveyed and their boundary and territory is established – that is not the case. Debates, conflicts and tensions continue to arise where boundaries are involved. Some of these concerns arise due to historical factors, others as a result of wars and even shifting lands. How important are land boundaries?
Boundaries around the globe between countries and other legal entities are constantly in a state of change. Contrary to the widely held view that most countries are well surveyed and their boundary and territory is established – that is not the case. Debates, conflicts and tensions continue to arise where boundaries are involved. Some of these concerns arise due to historical factors, others as a result of wars and even shifting lands. How important are land boundaries?
Countries aim to define their boundaries and territory. Doing so establishes what is owned and determines jurisdiction for polices and legislation. It also means control of resources, activities and development among other factors. While national boundaries are the easiest to understand, many conflicts appear when regional or local governments are involved. In their basic form, most readers will be aware of boundary disputes between their own property and that of their neighbours.
The African Land Network (ALN), such as, is currently attempting to resolve boundaries in Kenya. “The lack of a centralized land management and registration system is one of the main reason for the rampant misappropriation, land grabbing and fraud cases that have plagued our lands registries. Land has been, and continues to be, a sensitive issue for Kenyans and has been the genesis of most economic and political issues in Kenya, the most glaring reminder being the post-election violence in 2007/2008,” reported Ratio magazine.
Establishing boundaries may take much time. Draft boundaries for Jamaica were published in 2005. In 2009 that country signed an MOU with South Korea for the specific purposes of creating cadastral boundary. That work is now nearing completion with Jamaican residents owning land, being issued official land ownership certificates.
Boundary issues are about to be solved between Kosovo and Serbia based upon detailed ownership records. In this example the participates also express concerns – and fears, about who might really own property and how it was acquired. In Vancouver Island in British Columbia, ownership and land management issues are being raised over 28,000 acres of land that connect with a park boundary. In Bhutan, development has been stalled due to land owner disagreements. And perhaps the largest conflict of them all at present concerns the South China Sea, which China reportedly says it owns.
Land boundaries are constantly in flux. As circumstances change, boundary disputes and conflicts arise. How boundaries are identified using cartographic technologies and mapping tools can remedy these conflicts, or make them more difficult. This depends upon interpretation of symbols and wording in some cases, legitimate differences sometimes or negotiation.
Access to and the publishing of official cadastral boundaries can create security and give peace as theresident of Costa Rica are finding out, or, they can support environmental efforts as in the case of erosion in New Zealand. Meanwhile, Italy is about to experience greater assessment for taxing of farm land – again based on boundaries.
Boundaries are important for establishing the foundation upon which jurisdiction, negotiation and administration take place.
Additional Reading:
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