As population density increases and available natural resources diminish, tensions and competition increase among stakeholders for access to land for farming and animal husbandry as well as access to forest, fishery and wildlife resources. The scramble for resources involves communities, economic interest groups, governments and the private sector as they compete with each other for the choicest items available. The scenario has far reaching implications for all facets of life in Africa. This edition of Nature & Faune magazine explores the complex subject of “Natural resource tenure systems and their implication for agriculture, food security and nature conservation in Africa”. It argues that the absence of clear understanding of the complexities and implications of natural resource tenure systems in Africa poses a key challenge in achieving sustainable development on the continent.