title: Law No. 109/88, 26 September 1988.
abstract: This Law establishes agrarian reform policy in Portugal.  Its main goals are the improvement of the conditions of exploitation of the land; the economic, social, and cultural promotion of farmers and agricultural workers; the protection of their rights; the use of resources to increase agricultural production and productivity; and the protection of the environment, including the fertility of land.  Special emphasis is given to consideration of regional ecological characteristics in efforts to maximize agricultural productivity.  The Law also has as a goal the promotion of associational agricultural practices.  To attain these goals, the Law provides for the expropriation and redistribution of land and introduces incentives designed to provide wide-ranging material support of agricultural activity and integrative measures, which deal with infrastructural development.  Expropriation and redistribution of land are to be carried out according to procedures set forth in the Code of Expropriation.  The Law, however, introduces the landowner's "right of reserve."  Under this right, landowners may apply for the devolution of expropriated land, subject to the limit of 60 hectares per "right of reserve" or, alternately, to the limit of 91,000 productivity points, measured according to criteria of a land productivity schedule, regardless of the physical size of the area subject to expropriation.  The "right of reserve" shall be apportioned among co-owners and legal successors of expropriated land.  Procedures to be followed in determining the "right of reserve" are set forth in Regulating Decree No. 44/88, 14 December 1988 (Diario da Republica, Series I, No. 287, 14 December 1988, pp. 4915-6).
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D019049:Developed Countries; D004467:Economics; D004651:Employment; D004777:Environment; D005060:Europe; D006280:Health Workforce; D007878:Legislation as Topic; D009042:Motivation; D011174:Portugal; D011640:Public Policy; D012939:Social Planning
keywords: Agrarian Reform--legal aspects; Agricultural Workers--legal aspects; Developed Countries; Economic Factors; Environment; Environmental Protection--legal aspects; Europe; Human Resources; Incentives--legal aspects; Labor Force; Legislation; Natural Resources; Policy; Portugal; Rural Development; Southern Europe