International Forests Day: The crucial value of India’s common lands
BY HARPINDER SANDHU, WEI ZHANG, HAGAR ELDIDI AND RUTH MEINZEN-DICK Common lands, whether communal forests, pasturelands, or wetlands located close to villages, provide a range of ecosystem services (ES) to local people and society, benefits also known as nature’s contributions to people. They are sources of clean air and water, food and fuel, livelihoods, cultural inspiration, and spiritual fulfillment. According to one estimate, 2.5-3 billion