Land Reform in Bhutan

Overview

Land is one of the most important assets in Bhutan's predominantly rural society. Land reform — encompassing redistribution, legal protection, and management — has been a key policy area since the Third King's modernization era.^[4]

Historical Context

The abolition of serfdom by the Third King freed thousands who had been tied to the land of nobles and monasteries. Subsequent land distributions through the Kidu system granted state land to landless citizens.

The Land Act of 2007^[2]

The Land Act of 2007 modernized property rights, establishing:

• Equal inheritance rights regardless of gender (supporting existing matrilineal traditions)
• Land use regulations balancing development with environmental conservation
• Protection against arbitrary land seizure

Southern Bhutan

Land confiscation in southern Bhutan during the 1990s — when properties of expelled Lhotshampa were redistributed — remains one of the most contentious land issues in Bhutanese history.

References

1. "Background." National Land Commission Secretariat, Bhutan.
2. "Comprehensive Review of the Land Act of Bhutan, 2007." Heidelberg University repository.
3. "Bhutan — Context and Land Governance." Land Portal.
4. "Land Act of Bhutan 2007." ECOLEX / FAO.
5. "Changes in Property Rights and Management of High-Elevation Rangelands in Bhutan." Mountain Research and Development / BioOne.