New drivers of changes over common land are impacting on its overall ecosystem & governance in the present context.  Land is a dynamic entity. The land dynamics has changed at a much faster pace in last two or three decades. Due to a high price attached to the land like never before, the outlook of citizen and community has changed enormously. Due to contemporary drivers of change, public land or common land has become the most vulnerable.It is being privatized or diverted for other uses. From the community`s angle- due to change in livelihood pattern especially among the youth, the traditional occupations like pastoralism and farming are becoming less attractive. Furthermore, reduced requirement of fodder from pastures, specially from pastures could change the outlook of farmers towards the commons.

Grey areas in the land governance often make the commons further vulnerable to allotment for industrial purpose. For example, Sivai Chak category of land in western Rajasthan is generally interpreted as revenue wasteland by the government. On the Sivai Chak land category, many sacred groves or Orans are situated. However, the government considering it wasteland, is allotting it for wind and solar energy parks. It is leading to shrinkage in grazing areas of livestock & loss of avenues of livelihood of pastoral communities.

In spite of these all changes, there are a number of NGOs ,community based organizations networks/organizations etc.which have successfully worked to restore commons through community action. For example-Oran conservation groups in western Rajasthan, pastoral groups in Banni grasslands of Kachch supported by Shajeevan in Kachch, village groups in tribal areas of Seva Mandir etc., have created community models of conservation and management of pastures in different ecological zones. These experiences could show us ways to keep the issue of commons relevant for the rural communities in rapidly changing landscape.