Act No. 172 for the Faroe Islands on the administration and operation of common grazing lands.

This Act regulates the management, use, and governance of common grazing areas (“hagar”) in the Faroe Islands. It establishes a system of local authority through the haugestævne (owners’ assembly) and a board responsible for the administration, maintenance, financial management, and representation of the common land. The law sets out the roles and duties of haugerøgtere (shepherds), rules for livestock marking, breeding, and flock management, and provides frameworks for communal versus individual ownership of sheep. It also regulates the keeping of horses and geese in common areas, the distribution of grazing rights, and the responsibility for maintenance of boundaries and shared infrastructure.
The law further sets rules for seasonal grazing on private farmland, limited use rights such as summer cattle grazing and peat cutting, and the possible redemption or modification of such traditional rights through compensation. It outlines procedures for resolving disputes, primarily through the Land Commission system, and prescribes penalties for violations. The law standardizes how rights and obligations tied to the common land should be exercised, transferred, or restricted, aiming to ensure sustainable land use, equitable access among landowners, and protection of shared resources.