The ‘Commons Convening,’ a landmark three-day event at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, spotlighted the crucial role of community-led initiatives in conserving India’s vast ecological Commons. Gathering stakeholders from over 20 states and union territories, the conference underscored the significance of these communal resources in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and climate objectives.
Indias Commons span 205 million acresabout a quarter of the country’s landmasssupporting over 350 million rural inhabitants. The opening plenary honored seven grassroots changemakers for their contributions to Commons conservation. Jishudan Dishari from Odisha shared his experiences in Barakutni, emphasizing community mobilization and urging broader societal involvement. Meanwhile, Y Nuklu Phom from Nagaland detailed his community’s shift from hunting to conservation, highlighting successful protection of Amur falcons and enhanced collaboration between policymakers and local leaders.
Urban conservation also featured prominently, with Bengaluru’s lake activist Usha Rajagopalan stressing the need for livable cities to prevent further rural-to-urban migration and resource depletion. The event included insights from Rajesh S Kumar, Muniraju SB, Sudarshan Iyengar, Ranjan Kumar Ghosh, and Zeenat Niazi, who collectively emphasized the importance of integrating local wisdom and urgent action in conservation efforts.
