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Securing the Commons

Securing Property, Securing Livelihoods
With global poverty reduction at the forefront of global discussions, a better understanding of common property regimes and more action to secure access and tenure to common property are needed. An estimated 2b people live on the world’s commons, drawing their subsistence-based livelihoods from these lands. The failure of states to recognize and legitimize access to the commons has led to the privatization of historically common lands, leading to the dispossession of large numbers of the rural poor, including indigenous peoples and women.

The commons play an important role in securing the livelihoods of the most vulnerable and poorest members of society. It is on the commons that resource users have the least tenure security and right of access. It is here that resource users often suffer the least tenure security. It is also on the commons that many of the ‘bottom billion’ live, drawing on the commons for their livelihoods and subsistence. The failure of states to recognize and legitimize access to the commons has led to the privatization of historically common lands, leading to the dispossession of large numbers of the rural poor, including indigenous peoples and women.

Common property regimes allocate rights of ownership, management, use, exclusion, or access of a shared resource to a collective user group. The common-pool resources within the commons may be used and controlled by individuals or by groups; multiple rights to the same resource may exist, creating complex systems that regulate seasonal use and other use patterns. For example, a commonly-held forest area can be used for timber, fodder, fruit, firewood and other forest products.

The dynamic and complex nature of the multiple use character of common property regimes makes it difficult for governments to develop policies and regulations protecting common lands. In most cases, rights to resources and tenure on common property are not secure. Furthermore, the commons and people’s abilities to access resources therein are facing a number of threats. These threats can be categorized into a few thematic areas such as market-related development, population pressures, legal inadequacies, ambiguous government policies, and conflict.

Strengthening the security of access to the commons is critical for the long-term survival of the millions of people who rely on common property for their livelihoods. Securing access has taken different forms including legislative and policy reform, decentralization of state authorities, support of local institutions, and collective action initiatives.

ILC Works to Promote Tenure Security and Access
ILC aims to strengthen the capacity of local institutions, civil society organizations, and non-governmental organizations to promote tenure security for those whose livelihoods are based on the use of common property. Supporting collective action and community organization can increase the ability of community groups to successfully negotiate secure access and tenure to the commons. Additionally, ILC seeks to increase the visibility and capacity of local, rural institutions who advocate on behalf of securing the commons.

ILC’s role is to identify the lessons and interventions that can elevate the status of common property systems. ILC will gather and analyze reports to assist member organizations in promoting tenure security. This section of the website features relevant information, policy papers, case studies, policy reviews, and a calendar of international events.