Recognition of Commons and ICCAs—Territories of Life in Europe: Assessing Twelve Years of Initiatives in Spain

Abstract

Lack of recognition lays at the root of many of the current challenges for commons and ICCAs—Territories of Life despite the wide range of ongoing, collective action initiatives in Europe acknowledging and fighting this gap. In this paper, using a mixed methods approach, we analyze twelve years of three bottom-up initiatives based on the commons and ICCA—Territory of Life concept, implemented in Spain from 2012 to 2025. The aim of this research is to assess and understand the degree of success of the initiatives, based on an analysis of the source of recognition and the type of goals achieved. In general terms, the three recognition initiatives were successful, especially at the levels of self-, peer, and international recognition. However, all failed to substantially improve public awareness and national and sub-national governmental recognition, especially when addressing policy change and implementation. We conclude that, in the European context, despite these challenges, the concepts of “commons” and “ICCA-Territory of Life” are powerful tools to achieve some level of recognition and are a strategic priority for facing Europe’s challenges fostering solutions that reinforce the role, capacity, responsibility, and rights of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities.