Commons

Also called: common land, common property, community land

A commons is shared by a defined group under rules the group sets: who may graze, cut wood or fish, how much, and when. Many indigenous and tribal lands are held this way. States have often treated such land as empty or as government property, which has led to its loss.

Related words

Answers that use this word

• Are there still nomads today?
• What are indigenous land rights, and why does land matter so much?
• What is traditional knowledge, and why does it matter for biodiversity?
• Who are the pastoralist peoples of Africa?

Lessons that use this word

• Pastoralists and nomads