This paper discusses, based on an institutional perspective, the fragility pro­ blem regarding rural land property rights in Brazil. It starts by analyzing historical determinants of the land governance institutional setting, mainly the land registration and land cadastre systems. It shows that it is not adequate for ruling land squatting, it creates incentives for frauds and stimulates land conflicts. The paper ends proposing institutional changes which creates adequate land governance that will assure a security increase in rural land property rights.