68 GOVERNING TENURE RIGHTS TO COMMONS
2. Analysing the local context before starting. A sound local analysis is a prerequisite
to being able to design or reform legislation, support systems and institutions in a way that corresponds to the variety of local conditions. This may include the
assessment of existing customary systems including existing procedures and power relations, of land and natural resource management practices with special
focus on user rights for commons, and of related problems, bottlenecks and conlicts. Such analyses need to be carried out in a representative spectrum of
communities. They should include participatory methods in order to adequately consider local knowledge and perceptions.
3. Prioritizing. Given that resources and capacities for action will always to some
extent be limited, the process of registration of tenure rights cannot be carried out in all places at the same time. The Guidelines suggest that this process should
progress area by area in accordance with national priorities § 7.4. The prioritization of areas may be actioned in accordance with the urgency of the task, or the interest
and preparedness of communities, or a combination of both. Urgency for the protection of commons is usually found in places where commons are actually
threatened by ongoing land allocation and transfer dynamics. These are usually areas with interested investors or with ongoing conlicts over land and natural
resources. Working with interested and well-prepared communities as partners will help to speed up the process. Experience will be quickly acquired and progress
quickly made in inding examples of good practice for demonstration, thereby giving momentum to the process. Having interested and well-organized partners
at community level will also help to demonstrate that the process can work, how it works, and what the beneits for the people are.
4. Diferentiate according to types of communities. Even within a certain country,
