However the nagari autonomously governed under mutual agreement of clans. Minangkabau Community have elaborated communal land forest management systems. Each nagari, clan and lineage developed its own forest and land territories under the mutual agreement of its members. No individual were allowed to own land and lineages were the primary land holding corporations. Farmers must ask for approval by the clan or lineage head.
Farmers can grow tree crops freely with full ownership.
Perennial crop inheritance depends on lineage decisions, but planter's children can inherit at least part of the trees planted. Since 1979 the Nagari has no function anymore, and traditional lineage leaders are rarely present especially in land control pattern. Socio-economic has drastically transformed Minangkabau farmer's style and changed traditional land tenure institution as welll as forest land use. In particular, lineage were the primary forest owners. Lineage determined the borders after consultation.