The English version of the Thesaurus is the result of three series of interventions: first, collaboration between several FAO technical services that were invited to participate in the elaboration of the French version of the document on the various aspects of land tenure, which led to an initial list of terms most of which were divided into thematic chapters.
Based on this provisional terminology, Catherine Goislard, Juridical Anthropologist, proceeded to edit the first draft of the initial chapters.
Second, a team of researchers at the Catholic University of Leuven, linked to the Institute of Development Studies took over and completed the manuscript under the scientific coordination of Etienne Verhaegen, Agronomist, and the general supervision of Paul Mathieu, Socio-economist.
Nevertheless, it would not have been possible to produce the French version without the collaboration of land tenure specialists from various scientific research Institutes.
Third, the adaptation of the French version to the different land tenure English speaking countries' contexts, its review and the addition of terms were completed thanks to Mr. Paul Munro-Faure, former Director of the Commission 7 (Cadastre and Land Management) of the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG) who benefitted from the collaboration of Professor Peter Dale, University College, London, UK, Dr. Frances Plimmer, University of Glamorgan, UK, Professor Sue Nichols, University of New Brunswick, Canada, Markku Villikka, Executive Secretary, FIG and the Commissions, FIG, David Palmer, Land Tenure Service (FAO, SDAA), Fernando Fernández Arriaga (SDAA) and Alessandra Zorcolo, SDAA editorial Consultant.
Our thanks go to each and everyone who assisted in their own way, in the elaboration of this version of the Thesaurus.
Needless to say that any shortcomings or lacunae in the present version should be attributed solely to the editor, who asks readers to bring to his attention anything they would like to see included in a revised version of this modest Land Tenure Thesaurus.
Communications regarding the present adaptation should be addressed to the Chief, Land Tenure Service (SDAA), FAO, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100, Rome, Italy.
