Collective action and community participation are the two key pillars for realising community resources. Seven grassroots change makers from across India emphasised this at the inaugural session of the Commons Convening in New Delhi. The three-day event provides a common platform for key stakeholders, government officials, citizens, researchers and representatives of various communities to address challenges facing the governance of India’s ecological commons.
Jishudan Dishari from Odisha started exploring conservation techniques like planting trees, irrigation systems to revive natural resources. He works with over 50 youth and 100 women from his nearby villages, requesting and encouraging wider participation from society. Pointing to many such community-led conservation efforts across India, he urged the conference to come together to formulate a law that empowers them and ensures that policies do not become a hindrance.
Turned from hunting to photography
Y Nuklu Phom from Yongyimchen village in Nagaland turned from hunting to photography, which restored biodiversity. Soon Amur falcons started visiting our forest areas. The importance of commons in cities was discussed, stating that making cities liveable will stop migration of people to rural areas. Urgent action was needed in collaboration with the government and communities to institutionalize commons at the sub-national level.
What is the objective of the conference
India’s commons include community forests, pastures and water bodies. These resources cover more than 205 million acres and are essential to the livelihoods of more than 350 million poor villagers. Commons provide vital resources such as food, water, medicine, firewood and timber. They also provide important ecosystem services including clean water, fertile soil, pollination, pest control and carbon storage.
Local communities have systems and traditions to control and regulate the sustainable use of these resources. Commons are being degraded and the traditional governance systems that sustain them require urgent collective action.
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