The basis / element of the commons: “It’s an idea / ideology of compassion, to think about other people as well, and not just people but including organisms, animals, plants, trees, and whatever lifeforms. Usually we say on governing the commons, we think about people within an area but it’s not only that. If we cultivate the principles of compassion and sharing it is about our worldview. So essentially, it’s the sense of compassion, the members work together and try to include the life of other beings, not taking too much advantage and too much privatization” (Narumon Arunotai, 2020).
Prof. Narumon Arunotai described that the basis of commons is compassion, caring for others, and sharing without exploitation, not only focusing on a person but also other creatures such as animal plants and living things. Moreover, she exemplified that Huai Hin Lad Nai is a crucial model community in representing their potential in rotational farming, collaboration with a government agency, and wild honey innovation. Rotational farming is related to commons because it is the mutual land for villagers to produce mutual food resources. However, there is a misunderstood myth between rotational farming and mobile plantation from authorities who stereotyped villagers’ farming as mobile plantation and deforestation. As a matter of fact, rotational farming cannot specify the land ownership, and it depends on potential and capability in the cultivation of family each year. In contrast, the government focuses on laws for privatization and land titles to manage people to access in loan, development, or advocacy from the state. Consequently, the different overview of natural resource management on the side of the state leads to devaluing commons by formulating ownership and monoculture.
