At the Commons Convening in Delhi, Delegates Discuss the Economic Value of Land Commons
New Delhi: Economic Valuation of Land Commons in India Highlights Socio-Economic Impact A new report titled “National Level Brief on Economic Valuation of Land Commons in India,” was presented at the Commons Convening event on Tuesday, August 27, 2024. The report, compiled by Common Ground, the Foundation for Ecological Security (FES), Federation University, and the International Food Policy Research Institute, aims to highlight the economic value of land commons by estimating the income derived from them and assessing their socio-economic impact. It draws from a paper titled “Valuing Ecosystem Services provided by Land Commons in India: Implications for Research and Policy.”
Key Findings:
Total Land Commons Area: The report identifies 66.5 million hectares of land commons in India, valued at an average annual worth of INR 6.6 lakh crore (USD 90.5 billion).
Valuation of Ecosystem Services: This valuation is further broken down into different ecosystem services that contribute to human well-being:
Provisioning Services: Tangible products such as food, water, and raw materials, valued at INR 65,411 (USD 891.81) per hectare per year.
Regulating Services: Benefits from regulations like climate regulation, soil fertility, and water purification, valued at INR 60,698 (USD 827.74) per hectare per year.
Supporting Services: Necessary for producing other ecosystem services, such as soil formation and habitat provision, valued at INR 24,078 (USD 328.27) per hectare per year.
Cultural Services: Non-material benefits like spiritual enrichment and cognitive development, valued at INR 4,456 (USD 60.79) per hectare per year.
Discussions on “Our Commons”
The convening also focused on “Our Commons,” a comprehensive handbook that explains concepts like Commons, Commoning, and community stewardship in India. The book explores various types of Commons, including natural resources (such as forests and water bodies) and cultural and digital Commons. It emphasizes the importance of community stewardship and collaborative efforts to restore these Commons. Key statistics from the book include:
350 million rural people depend on Commons for their livelihoods.
40-60% of tribal communities’ earnings come from forest produce, with a significant portion being collected by women.
77% of India’s livestock depend on common lands, which provide 53% of India’s milk and 74% of its meat requirements.
Day 2 Highlights: “Samaj, Sarkar, and Bazaar”
On the second day, Arun Maira, a former member of the Planning Commission of India, moderated a session titled “Samaj, Sarkar, and Bazaar,” which explored the relationships between communities, governments, and markets. He called for a bottom-up approach to ensure that both government and market actions serve society and nature.
Panelists in the plenary session included:
Thomas Isaac: Former Finance Minister of Kerala
Jahnvi Andharia: Director and Research Fellow, Institute of Social Studies Trust
Mekhala Krishnamurthy: Professor, Ashoka University
Key Points of Discussion:
Thomas Isaac emphasized that in a global economy, local communities cannot be isolated from global markets. He stressed the need for better integration of local communities with governance to manage Commons more effectively.
Mekhala Krishnamurthy pointed out that the term “bazaar” is often misunderstood as global markets, while it actually refers to a hyperlocal marketplace where local communities are deeply engaged. She highlighted that while “samaj” (society) is the foundation of both “sarkar” (government) and “bazaar” (markets), there is a significant power imbalance among the three.
This convening underscores the need for recognizing and enhancing the economic and socio-cultural value of Commons in India, advocating for stronger community involvement in governance and stewardship.