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Land Reform

Course developer

Course abstract

The study course aims for students to acquire knowledge about the importance of land reform for rearranging land relations and its application in solving practical tasks and scientific issues. Students get acquainted with land reform as a tool for reorganizing land relations, with the historical experience of land reform in Latvia, the preconditions, tasks and principles of the last (1990) land reform, as well as the process and results of land reform in Latvian cities and rural areas. In the seminars, students get acquainted in-depth and evaluate the results of land reform in specific areas.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

1. Students know the concept and essence of land relations, land reform as a means of legal changes in the structure of land ownership (owners) and their historical development in Latvia - 1st test;
2. Students know the main tasks and process of the last land reform in Latvian cities and rural areas - tests 2 and 3;
3. Students are able to evaluate the results of land reform, positive and negative aspects, as well as to argue their views - seminars;

4. Students are able to prepare presentations and informative materials about the course and results of land reform - homework

Course Content(Calendar)

Lectures and seminars:
1. Land relations and historical review of land reforms in Latvia since the 17th century.
2. The concept of real estate in the pre-reform period.
3. Prerequisites for land reform (2 h).
4. The aim, tasks and basic principles of land reform in rural areas and cities, their evaluation.
5. Legal and institutional provision of land reform.
Test 1: Land relations and the history of land reforms in Latvia. Preconditions, main principles and provision of the latest land reform.
6. Allocation of land for use in rural areas.
7. Privatization of land in rural areas (Redemption of rural land. Restoration of land ownership rights to former landowners and their heirs) (2 h).
8. Privatization of land in cities (Redemption of urban land. Restoration of ownership of land in cities).
9. Transfer of land to the ownership of state institutions and local governments.
10. Land management works in rural areas and cities. Surveying works. Land disputes and their settlement (2 h).
Test 2: Land reform in rural areas and cities.
11. Determination of the value of eligible land and the area of eligible land in rural areas and cities.
12. Cadastral valuation for land privatization and tax administration needs (2 h).
13. Cadastral works and development of cadastral information system.
14. Completion of land reform and results in rural areas and cities.
15. Assessment of the positive and negative aspects of land reform (2 h).
Test 3: Completion and results of land reform.

16. Closing seminar (homework presentation).

Requirements for awarding credit points

Confirmative assessment by mark. .
Confirmative assessment consists of: :
- 3 written tests for evaluation of theoretical knowledge;
- participation in seminars ( must attend not less than 85% of the total amount of seminars );

- presentation of homework which should be prepared according to to the topic chosen within the study course. The homework topicshould be related to the results of land reform in the selected administrative area.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Students should get acquainted with s study subjects and land reform specific literature and legislation.
Students have to perform the individual preparational work according to the lecturer's recommendations and be ready to participate actively in the seminars.

Homework: the presentation should be prepared individually according to land reform and other subjects discussed during the study course. The study site should be selected by the student for homework purposes.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The student's performance will be evaluated according to confirmative assessment. The final mark will be calculated considering the results in test,the presentation (discussing the chosen topic) and activity during the seminars.
The test is written successfully if not less than 50% of questions have been answered correctly.

At the end of the study course, the confirmative assessment will be performed. The final mark will be calculated cumulatively according to the following proportion:
- arithmetic mean of marks obtained in 3 tests (50%);
- mark for the homework presentation (40%);
- mark for the activity in seminars (10%).

Compulsory reading

1. Paršova V., Jankava A. Zemes attiecību pārkārtošana Latvijā (1989 – 2019). Jelgava:, LLU, 2021. 95 lpp.
2. Zemes reforma – atslēga uz īpašumu, 1990 – 2012. /Autoru kolektīvs, zin.red. J.Mierkalne. Rīga: VZD, 2012. 335 lpp.
3. Joksts O. Zemes reforma Latvijā un tās tiesiskais nodrošinājums (1990.-2005.g.). Rīga: Multineo, 2006. 240 lpp.
4. Parsova V., Jankava A. (2021) Chapter 6. Transformation of land relations in Latvia (1989 – 2019). In: Land reform: from state monopoly to property diversity: in 2 volumes. Samara: Publishing House of the Samara Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Volume 1,. p. 206-263.
5. Земельная реформа: от монополии государства к многообразию форм собственности: коллективная монография / Под общей редакцией В.Н.Хлыстуна: в 2 томах. Самара: Издательство Самарского федерального исследовательского центра РАН, 2020. Т. 1. 360 с.; т. 2. 306 с.

Further reading

1. Zeme, mana tava, mūsu... Autoru kolektīvs: J.Stradiņš u.c. Rīga: VZD, 2002. 324 lpp.
2. Zemes reformai Latvijā 10 gadi, 1990-2000. / Autoru kolektīvs, atb.red. J.Blite. Rīga: VZD, 2000. 160 lpp.
3. Land reform: from state monopoly to property diversity: in 2 volumes. Editorial board: Dr.oec. K. Gabibulla Samara: Publishing House of the Samara Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2021. 264 p.

Periodicals and other sources

1. Mērnieks: problēmas, risinājumi, tehnoloģijas. Latvijas Mērnieku biedrība. Rīga: Trinets. ISSN 1407-7124
2. Baltic Surveying: International Scientific Juornal. / Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania), University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn (Poland). ISSN 2255 – 999X (online). Pieejams: https://www.vbf.llu.lv/sites/vbf/files/2021-10/Volume_15_full_text_21.pdf
3. Valsts zemes dienesta mājas lapa. Pieejams: https://www.vzd.gov.lv

Notes

Academic higher education master's study program Environmental, Water and Land Engineering, specialization Land Management