An important element in legislation is the distribution of land ownership: Who formally owns the land determines – from a legal perspective – who manages and controls the land. This article discusses the issue of land tenure and its impact on land-use, and management of natural resources in Sudan, Kenya and Tanzania as part of the Greater Horn of Africa Region (Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya and Tanzania). It explains relevant concepts regarding land tenure and forest resource management in these countries. It also provides an overview of the role of the state in land-use regulation in the Sudan, Kenya and Tanzania. It concludes with some suggestions for appropriate land tenure and land-use policies which define property rights in a way that incorporates the conservation ethic.