This research examines land disputes between local communities, individuals and the Office of Natural Resources and Watershed Management of Kalat-e Nader County Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran, over the last 24 years. A socio-legal methodology was adopted which included the analysis of legal and management frameworks and the collection of empirical data. It investigates court cases heard at the Single-Clause Commission (SCC) as well as at Special Branches (SBs) for private agricultural land holdings encroaching on public land holdings, which are commonly protected natural areas. According to the results, 551 court cases have been heard by the SCC and 126 at SBs. Moreover, a court case was lodged at SCC and SBs, on an average of every 14 days, with a decision being handed down within a duration of every 1,246 and 386 days, respectively. Furthermore, 67 percent and 69 percent of the decisions were issued in favour of public land holdings by the SCC and SBs. An understanding of these legal conflicts, their trials and outcomes, provides insight into long-term policies for conflict resolution. However, it can be suggested that the SCC needs to be re-established in addition to community-based arbitration to lead towards developing good local governance.

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