Communities reclaim their role as custodians of the commons: A locally led initiative rooted in shared responsibility, traditional knowledge, and self-governance

April 2025: A collective of villages in the Littipara block of Jharkhand’s Pakur district has pioneered a locally-led effort to reduce forest degradation during the Mahua season by replacing fire with sustainable alternatives for flower collection. The initiative, which has already reached over a dozen villages, is grounded in the communities’ knowledge systems and has led to improved forest health, higher incomes, and stronger local governance. Every year, in the weeks before the flowering of the Mahua tree, villagers would set dry leaves on fire to make collection easier. While the practice was rooted in traditional knowledge, its frequency and scale over time began to affect the ecological balance. “Fire is not new to these forests,” said Binod Malto, Pradhan of Makhnipahar “In some ways, it can even be useful. But we realised that doing it every year, in the same way, was making the forest weaker.”

In January 2025, small meetings held in hamlets such as Durio, Kathalpara, Jhapri, Gadpahari and Chhotapokhriyacreated a space for dialogue. Facilitated by Sarva Seva Samity Sanstha (4S India), part of the Common Ground Initiative, these gatherings were not designed to preach solutions, but to open up questions. Villagers began discussing the long-term impact of annual burning—not just on forest biodiversity but on livelihoods. “The mushrooms had disappeared. The Mahua yield was down. We knew something had changed,” said Bada Guiya (Guiya Pahariya), elderly from Durio village.

The effort gained momentum when the Village Development Committee (VDC) of Gadphari called for a larger meeting involving 14 villages. On February 11, at the GadphariChabutra—a common space for community dialogue—hosted an inter-village gathering where stories, observations, and solutions were shared.

The outcome was decisive: the formation of a Jangal Bachao Samity (Forest Protection Committee) and a consensus to stop burning leaves for Mahua collection. “New methods were adopted, including the use of brooms to gather flowers and composting of leaves to retain soil fertility. Villages formed their own fire-response teams and agreed to monitor forest use collectively. Rules were not imposed—they were drafted, debated, and adopted by the community,” said Mihir Sahana, Executive Director, 4S India.

“We chose our own leaders,” said Chotu Chandu Pahariya(Gudit or Priest) from Tisero, elected treasurer of the committee. “We didn’t need someone from outside to tell us how to take care of our forest. We just needed to sit together and talk.”

Since then, the effort has spread organically. Songs, plays, and forest walks have become part of outreach to nearby villages. By March, more than 90 households had adopted fire-free Mahua collection, and approximately 7 hectares of forest land were protected. 

The revival is also enabling a more inclusive model of governance. Women, in particular, have emerged as stewards of the commons—participating in decision-making, leading implementation, and shaping the norms of forest use. Their leadership is not symbolic, but central to the outcomes being seen on the ground.

“The forest feels alive again,” said Martha Paharin, a woman leader from Kathalpara, who leads a group of Mahua collectors. “And for the first time, we feel we are doing something not just for ourselves, but for the next generation.”

Plans to expand the initiative are already underway. Cluster review meetings absed on regulations and SoPs will be being organized for April and May, and discussions are ongoing with the Forest Department to support and replicate the model in other areas. “The villages are also exploring how this governance structure could be adapted for other resources, such as grazing lands and water bodies,” said Kumar Gaurav, Deputy Director, Fund Raising & Programs, 4S India.

“There is a shift. A shift in how people see the forest—not just as a source of income, but as something to care for together,”said Dunu Pahariya, Pradhan, Durio village.

"What began as a conversation in one village became a movement across 14 – protecting not just forests, but the spirit of community stewardship."