152 | ILDC

Introduction

The semi-arid and arid landscapes of India, encompassing large parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Ladakh host extensive grazing lands and common property resources (CPR) that form the backbone of rural livelihoods, livestock-based economies, and biodiversity. These commons include Orans, Gochar lands, and other open natural ecosystems that provide vital ecosystem services such as fodder, groundwater recharge, carbon sequestration, and habitat connectivity, however these lands are often misclassified as ‘wastelands’ and prioritised for conversion.

These landscapes are under increasing pressure from competing land uses, including industrial expansion, renewable energy projects, agricultural encroachment, and infrastructure development, resulting in fragmentation and degradation. At the same time, traditional management systems that historically maintained these commons through collective norms are weakening, while data and evidence to guide policy and planning remain scattered or insufficient.

In recent years, there has been renewed recognition of the role that grazing lands and commons play in achieving India’s Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets, climate adaptation goals, and biodiversity conservation commitments. Yet, translating this recognition into effective conservation and management practices requires robust, locally grounded evidence. Building such an evidence base which highlights ecological, socio-economic, and institutional parameters is critical for designing policies and governance frameworks that can sustain these landscapes and the pastoralist and agrarian communities that depend on them.

This panel brings together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers working across such landscapes to discuss how integrated evidence, ranging from ecological monitoring to mapping, can inform conservation and management strategies for grazing lands and commons. It aims to highlight ongoing initiatives, identify data and policy gaps, and foster collaboration among state agencies, civil society, and research institutions.

Objectives

1. To share emerging evidence on the ecological status, productivity, and land use dynamics of grazing lands and open natural ecosystems in western India.

2. To examine socio-economic and institutional dimensions of commons management, including the role of pastoralist communities, local governance, and customary norms.

3. To identify data and policy gaps that hinder effective conservation, restoration, and management of grazing lands at state and district levels, and the value of commons mapping, pastoralist routes mapping, and area-based prioritisation exercises.

4. To discuss pathways for integrating evidence into policy and planning, including alignment with state climate action plans, LDN targets, and biodiversity strategies.

5. To foster collaboration among researchers, practitioners, and government stakeholders to build a shared evidence base and promote knowledge-driven action for sustaining the

commons.