Design of a conceptual land information management model for the rural cadastre in Brazil

Description

The rural cadastral reform established by Law# 10,267/2001 is the most recent benchmark in the land administration history in Brazil. It is important not only because after this law rural properties must be geo-referenced, but also because for the first time Brazilian law has called for a common multipurpose cadastral system, called the National Cadastre for Rural Properties – CNIR. CNIR will integrate legal (tenure information), fiscal (value information) and agrarian (land use and management policies) and environmental (protected areas) databases. As in many countries which are in the process of a cadastral reform, Brazil faces serious political, legal, and technical challenges in developing a national rural cadastral system. However, through the harmonization of land information, it is hoped that land conflicts can be reduced, land can be more fairly redistributed and taxed, interests in traditional lands and protected areas can preserved and, most importantly, that what is registered at the registry offices is the same as what is represented on the ground. This research supports CNIR implementation by providing the design of a conceptual model based on user requirements of all collaborating agencies. The primary purpose of the model is to provide a framework for the integration of the current cadastral systems, under several land administration agencies, in order to obtain more accurate and concise land information to support and regularization and secure tenure in rural areas. More specifically, the model is designed to provide a well defined, structured design for CNIR implementation based on user requirements and project management methodologies. The research includes problem definition, analysis of requirements, constraints and opportunities, and design of a model using soft systems methodologies. The results are definition of required CNIR functions, data flow, and minimum content and implementation strategies. Working together with CNIR managers, the research has provided input for its development. The research is based on the assumption that land information, well managed and legally formalized, can help to provide better security of tenure, and as a consequence it may become the proposed model to bring improvement in land reform programs and in public services in Brazil.