Urwah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: I bear witness that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) ruled that "the land is the land of Allah and the servants are the servants of Allah, and whoever revives barren land has more right to it." This reached us from the same people through whom the prayers reached us.
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب إحياء الموات / 11773