THE RIGHT OF POSSESSION OF TRADITIONAL COMMUNITIES AND THE LAND TENURE REGULARIZATION POLICY OF THE STATE OF PARÁ

The article investigates whether the land tenure regularization policy of the State of Pará, within the scope of the Environmental and Territorial Planning Program (2020–2023), is compatible with the legal recognition of agroecological possession by traditional communities. It is based on the hypothesis that, despite quantitative advances in the issuance of land documents, the policy follows a predominantly individualizing logic, which strains the recognition of collective holdings and common-use areas. It is argued that the legitimacy of possession by traditional communities does not depend on state action, being based on labor on the land, sustainable practices, and fulfillment of the social function of the property. However, administrative recognition is essential for the enforcement of fundamental rights, especially for rural workers’ retirement. The research adopts an inductive method, with bibliographic review and documentary analysis of state legislation and reports from the Instituto de Terras do Pará (ITERPA). It is concluded that land tenure regularization policy in the state of Pará, although presenting relevant quantitative results, still requires normative and institutional adjustments to ensure the effective recognition of collective and agroecological forms of land possession.