Communal grazing lands, or commons, are an essential resource for pastoralists in India. Pastoralists historically managed these lands through rich and diverse local traditions that not only gave women equal access to the commons but also established them as the primary economic actors in pastoral communities. However, as common lands steadily disappear in India due to development, land conversion and privatization, so too is women’s role in pastoral communities. A recent report by ILRI senior scientist Fiona Flintan, Monika Agarwal, Neeta Pandya, Amanuel Assefa and Bedassa Eba seeks to better understand pastoralist women’s perspectives on the sociopolitical, environmental and economic changes occurring in India’s pastoral areas. The ultimate goal of the study, which is funded by the CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions and Markets (PIM), is to contribute to better-targeted land and pastoral policies, legislation and development strategies.