India, Aug. 20 -- For centuries, India's landscapes have been shaped by communities whose lives and livelihoods have been closely connected to forests, rivers, mountains, wetlands, grasslands and wildlife. Forests, in particular, have sustained communities by providing food, fuel, fodder, fibres, fruits, medicinal plants, timber and water, while also supporting soils, water systems, local climates and biodiversity. For millions of forest-dependent communities, forests remain deeply woven into their livelihoods, traditions, customs and everyday lives. Over generations, numerous communities across India developed customary practices to govern the use of forests, water sources, grazing lands and other common resources. Although these practic...