India: Strengthening tribal communities for a sustainable future – eSHOP24X7

Phulwasan Kudupi, a member of the Gond tribe from the village of Masulpani in the state of Chhattisgarh, India, walks with his community through the forest every day.

Phulvasan Kudupi collects important forest produce from there, such as Mahua, Harra, Behra and Tendu leaves, which have medicinal properties, and sells them in the market to support his family.

“We are completely dependent on the forest for our livelihood. We will do anything to save it,” says Kudupi.

Their story is the story of millions of tribal communities in India and around the world, who depend on “collective resources” for their livelihood.

“Collective resources” are those natural resources such as forests, pastures and water sources, which are used and managed collectively by all members of the community.

Around 35 million people in India, especially in rural and tribal areas, depend on these collective resources. However, their access and rights to these resources are still insecure.

importance of collective resources

Nearly two and a half billion people around the world depend on community-managed lands. These collective resources are often managed by developing collective rules to ensure equitable use and sustainability.

The destruction of these resources has led to problems such as biodiversity loss, land degradation and water scarcity, which have the greatest impact on vulnerable communities.

The tribal population, who derive almost half of their annual income from forests, is particularly affected by this situation.

To address these challenges, it is necessary to guarantee land rights and promote decentralized governance, so that both livelihoods and the environment can be protected.

Nobel Laureate Dr. Eleanor Ostrom’s research on collective resource management has paved the way for sustainable management of collective resources.

Its principles resonate deeply with India’s rural and tribal communities, whose future depends on the conservation of these shared resources.

Collective resources: the key to climate resilience and gender equality

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has recognized that the role of secure collective resource rights is important in the fight against climate change.

Communities that have control over their resources can better manage and conserve them, thereby reducing environmental risks.

For tribal communities, collective resources are not only economic resources but also an important basis for resisting climate crises such as droughts and floods.

Gender equality is also a central aspect of this discussion. The responsibility of collecting resources often falls on women, and women also suffer the most from the depletion of collective resources.

This has an adverse impact on their rights, livelihoods and social status. Secure land rights provide women with legal rights over these resources, giving them fair and equal access to land and other natural resources.

Furthermore, inclusive governance and management of natural resources improves the situation of women. This allows them to actively participate in decision-making processes, ensures equitable access to resources and promotes sustainable practices.

rights-based approach

Efforts to restore collective resources align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular the principle of “leaving no one behind.”

This approach requires governance that balances ecological restoration, livelihoods and social equity.

In India, UNDP has promoted community conservation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, state tribal welfare departments and the Ecological Security Institute.

The rights of forest dwellers, especially the scheduled tribes, have been recognized by strengthening the effective implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) of India.

This has helped these communities manage their resources sustainably.

The FRA not only protects tribal rights, but also promotes biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. This Act is useful in protecting livelihoods by giving communities the right to manage forests.

Collective resources are not just a shared space; They are like a lifeline for millions of marginalized people. Conservation of these resources is extremely important for social justice, climate resilience and sustainable development.