Land Commons: A Model for the Public Good?

On November 16 and 17, 2026, the first Forum on Land Commons will take place in Paris. Since a research project in 2018, this system of collective ownership has been the subject of growing attention.

It all began with the Comon project —“Communal Lands in the Mountains, ” supported by Labex ITTEM—whose goal was to better understand how these “collective” or “shared” property systems, which have endured throughout history, function. For its lead researcher, Jean-François Joye, a professor of public law at the University of Savoie Mont Blanc, the project also sought to assess their ability to address current challenges related to sustainable development.

Since then, interest in these ancestral collective land tenure systems has grown, as they are seen as a relevant response to the ecological transition needs of regions, particularly in mountainous areas. In 2023, the Valcom project —Promoting the Tangible and Intangible Heritage of Land Commons— brought together a multidisciplinary scientific team to raise awareness of these systems among public institutions, elected officials, and residents. In 2025, this work was formalized within a Chair established by the Savoie Mont Blanc University Foundation and led by Jean-François Joye and sociologist Olivier Chavanon. That same year, a study day was organized at the Senate.

On November 16 and 17, 2026, the first Forum on Land Commons in Paris will highlight the progress made in recognizing these models of collective ownership and their ability to offer concrete solutions to the ecological, social, and economic challenges facing local communities.“This issue of land tenure is no longer considered trivial because, in the face of society’s immense challenges, we must rethink the ways we live. It is now attracting the interest of European and international organizations—far more so, in fact, than French public institutions, which still refuse to give it serious attention. This is why it is essential to present the national and international situation at UNESCO,” notes Jean-François Joye.

The forum, organized in partnership with the Convergences platform and UNESCO, will take place at the UNESCO Palace in Paris.

Information and registration for the public event on November 17.