Collective tenure over commons

CollectiveTenure over Commons

Experiences from India

Foundation

for Ecological Security

(FES)

An Overview of the Presentation

• Principles of Commoning• Extent and Nature of Problem• Key tenets of Work• Commoning at Local Level• Commoning at Landscape Level• Policy and programmatic action• Emerging Issues

Principles Underpinning Commoning

We believe :

• All human beings are EQUAL• Local communities have

CAPACITIES to manage their resources

• Natural Resources are FINITE resources

• INTER GENERATIONAL responsibility

• Commons range from about 48.69 to 84.2 million hectare constituting 15% to more than 25% of the total geographical area of the country.

• Around 84-100% of the rural poor depend on the Commons for fuel, fodder and food items. (Jodha, 1982)

• Over the last 30 years, common lands have declined by 31 to 55%.

The primary reasons being

neglect of tenure rights of the

local communities and erosion in

governance institutions

Extent and Nature of Problem

Where We Work

Southern AP and Karnataka—drought prone, intensive production systems, water crisis

Gujarat—Ravination, salination, intensification of agriculture and livestock rearing

South-Eastern Rajasthan Agro-pastoralist systems in which livestock is a major asset

Eastern MP and Odisha—forest dependent livelihoods; large number of indigenous communities

Key Tenets of our Work At local level

Community institutions formalise/ evolve rules and regulations for governance of Common land

Claim collective tenure arrangements (in favour of Community institutions) so that the constituent village communities can make secure investments

Assist in restoration of degraded ecosystems

With Governments Favorable collective tenure

arrangements Devolution of management and

governance of common lands to lowest tier.

Programmatic action to translate policy intentions and public investments towards ecological restoration.

To formalise village specific rules for establishing democratic system , provisioning for poor, rules for resource governance

Final image defined boundary, universal membership, supremacy of the General Body, proper representation, decentralized structures, eligibility, right and duties of

members fund management system, access and appropriation rules, conflict resolution mechanism, provisioning for poor

Working with villages – Evolving Byelaws

Recognition of Rights over Commons

• Long term Lease arrangements (15-99 years)

• Co-management (Negotiating rights over forests through Joint Forest Management & Eco-Development Committees)

• Inalienable Tenure (through Community Forest Management & Conversion of Pastures)

• Strengthening existing Tenure (Lands under the Panchayats)

Bio-physical Restoration

Ecological Profiles Floral and faunal diversity

(Biodiversity) Data on Hydrological status Assess the status of

catchments –existing Water bodies

Assess the Soil status Data on Agriculture (Cropping

pattern, types, yield etc.) status

Identify Indicators for future monitoring

Evolving restoration & Conservation Action Plans for the village & the Landscape

Commoning at a Landscape Level• Evolving programmatic action

with State/District governments for restoring commons

• Campaigns for securing and restoring Commons

• Building capacities of local governance institutions to claim and secure commons and leverage programmes for restoration

• Build Collaborations and platforms that facilitate convergence and dialogue.

Lithology

Water Table

Recharge Potential

Slope

Landuse & Landcover

CLART

Recommendation

Very Good Recharge Surface Storage Treatment Plan

Treatment Plan based on Composite Land Assessment & Restoration Tool

(CLART)

Planning for conservation of land & Water (Composite Approach)


Drainage Line

Drainage Line


Drainage Line


Drainage Line


Drainage Line

Planning for conservation of land & Water

Extraction of tr ee biomass f rom the RF

4473

3712

5370

0

4000

8000

12000

16000

1Biomass use

Net addition

Excessextr action

P er missiblel imit

MAIEXT

RACTION

Qua

ntity

(MT)

Estimated tree biomass in RF = 4,72,315 MT

Mean annual increment (MAI) = 2.84% of tree biomass

= 13,555 MT

Recommended harvest limit = 33% of MAI

= 4,473 MT

Present level of extraction = 8,185 MT

Therefore, the extraction is much more than the permissible

harvest limit (85% higher).

Forest Cover Single Crop Double Crop Scrubland Wasteland0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

Change in Land Use Land Cover in Thoria Watershed

1993

2002

2006

2013

Are

a in

Hec

tare

s

• Evolving a framework to value collective action

• Promoting Polycentric Governance for governing Commons

• Aligning and and water related policies

Emerging Issues

THANK [email protected]

We aimed at– Dispelling the notion of

wastelands and showcase its critical importance for agricultural economy

– Demonstrating that local communities are very much capable of managing their forests, land, water…

– Advocating alignment of ‘Right to Employment Act’ with ‘Right over Resources’

– Building bridges- Commons need Commons

Policy and programmatic action

Policy FormulationReframe the need to protect

Commons by building up economic evidence of

Commons in rural livelihoods

Review the existing legal provisions and programmes to

understand the gaps and integrate 'Commons' in the

mainstream.

Build a common platform for different Departments to discuss and deliberate on

Commons issues.

Embed flexibility-moving beyond one-off processes,

leveraging new opportunities

Design programmes focusing on Commons

Build on commonly agreed rather than getting into

contestations

Draft Policy on Commons

Facilitate government in issuing Executive Orders

and Advisories

Hosted the 13th IASC Conference, pitching the

Conference to highlight the need for Policy on Commons in India and influence the 12th

five year plan.

Collaborate with other organizations across the

domains of forests, pastures, water as well as knowledge, digital and urban Commons

surfacing a Commons vocabulary

• Evolving a framework to value collective action

• Promoting Polycentric Governance for governing Commons

• Aligning and and water related policies

Emerging Issues

THANK [email protected]

LOCAL COMMUNITY: TAKING STEWARDSHIP OF COMMONS

KHORWAD, GUJARAT, 2001



GUDLAVARIPALLE, ANDHRA PRADESH August 2002

GUDLAVARIPALLE, ANDHRA PRADESH July 2009

GUDLAVARIPALLE, ANDHRA PRADESH November 2014

GYANGARH, RAJASTHAN February 2004

GYANGARH, RAJASTHAN July 2009

GYANGARH, RAJASTHAN August 2014

MOYA KHEDA, MADHYA PRADESH February 2003

MOYA KHEDA, MADHYA PRADESH September 2006

MOYA KHEDA, MADHYA PRADESH September 2014

SAJJUPALLI, KARNATAKASeptember 2002

SAJJUPALLI, KARNATAKASeptember 2009

SAJJUPALLI, KARNATAKANovember 2014

THENGA, ODISHAMarch 1999

THENGA, ODISHAOctober 2010

THENGA, ODISHAOctober 2014

BATHNIGARIPALLE THANDA, Andhra PradeshOctober 1992



BARUNDNI, RAJASTHANOctober 2002



DHAMANGATTI, RAJASTHANOctober 1998



NABKISHOREPUR, ODISHAMay 1998

NABKISHOREPUR, ODISHASeptember 2006

FES

NABHKISHOREPUR, ODISHAOctober 2015

CHARANGAM, GUJARATJuly 1987


FES


Environment

Collective tenure over commons