Natural resources governance

We help our clients develop strategies for strengthening inclusive governance of land, forests, water, and other shared resources. By leveraging local knowledge and existing legal frameworks, we conduct in-depth analyses to identify the challenges faced by communities, assess the legal and institutional mechanisms available for grievance redressal, and evaluate the effectiveness of these systems in delivering equitable and sustainable outcomes.

Hundred Stories of Success and Resilience from India’s Shared Landscapes

Nutgraph Social Data Lab, in collaboration with Common Ground Initiative, is happy to launch ‘100 Stories of the Commons’, a public archive that journeys across India to document how communities live with and care for shared environmental resources. These narratives reveal how millions continue to depend on, and protect India's commons.

100 Stories of commons

Commons are resources that are collectively owned, shared, or managed by a community, rather than being privately owned. In India, they play an essential role for survival and livelihood. In collaboration with Common Ground Initiative, we have been building a public archive of stories showcasing how communities in India practice collective governance, fair use, sustainability, and innovation rooted in traditional knowledge. These stories highlight not only how commons contribute to social, ecological, and economic well-being, but also how these shared spaces continue to evolve over time.

Stories are coming soon on this page!

Legal Terrain of India’s Commons

We have been monitoring the intersection of law and policy in the governance of India’s commons—an essential terrain to uncover executive and judicial patterns and find equitable and relevant pathways.

Estimating Value of India’s Forests

In a time when forests are more precious than ever, have our valuation methods kept up to their true value? This report examines how forest loss is currently assessed and explores pathways to ensure that reforestation mechanisms and policy frameworks meaningfully reflect India's ecological and climate goals.

Water Conflict Tracker

Water is essential to life. We are developing a database which offers in-depth information and insights on water governance, empowering stakeholders to shape stronger policies, informed investments, and more inclusive systems.