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    • Common Ground

    The Common Ground Initiative is a collaborative initiative jointly led by close to 60 organisations. It aims to strengthen environmental governance and rural livelihoods in India by leveraging the commons to address challenges related to livelihoods, climate change, and social inequality. By coordinating action across organisations and communities, the initiative works towards building an ecosystem of strong institutions and a network of change leaders, setting the stage for large-scale, lasting impact.


    Articles

    This special 8-part series has been supported by The Common Ground Initiative. The series explores various dimensions of the commons and draws on the experiences of key actors working to protect and govern them. It aims to build a deeper understanding of the role of the commons in addressing the intersecting challenges of livelihoods, climate, and social equity.
    a group of farmers standing in a field with their thumbs up facing the camera, with trees in the background--commons governance
    Rights
    November 6, 2025
    Hamaare gaon mein hum hi sarkaar: Reclaiming commons across India
    India's commons are often seized from the people who nurture them. Here's how communities are asserting their right to govern these lands.
    by Srishti Gupta, Tanupriya Singh | 9 min read
    A man throws his fishing net in a water body_Commons
    Climate Emergency
    October 30, 2025
    Commons and communities: The missing link in climate action
    From forests and grazing lands to wetlands and coastlines, India’s commons are vital buffers against the climate crisis. Yet, climate policies often overlook these ecosystems and the people that protect them.
    by Shreya Adhikari, Srishti Gupta, Saba Kohli Dave | 9 min read
    a woman looking over a ploughed field._economic valuation
    Environment
    September 26, 2025
    What is the value of commons?
    From livelihoods to ecosystems, commons sustain much more than we see. Here's what economic valuations can do for their protection.
    by Tanupriya Singh, Shreya Adhikari | 10 min read
    The image shows the collapsed Sankalang Bailey Bridge. Parts of the bridge are broken down and submerged in the Teesta river as water flows by in high speed. There are two people on either side of the collapsed bridge._Memory mapping
    Technology
    May 23, 2025
    Creating a people’s biography of rivers: Northeast’s own digital archive
    Faced with climate change, riverine communities are using memory maps, audio notes, and images to archive oral histories and traditional adaptation strategies.
    by Vandana Menon | 8 min read
    The image features three women working in a field. One women holds a stack of leaves in her hand and there are rows of bound and stacked leaves laid out on the ground._Community resources
    Environment
    May 2, 2025
    IDR Explains | Commons
    In just 10 minutes, learn how India’s commons power its people, ecology, and economy—through examples, their history, and challenges.
    by India Development Review | 10 min read
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