The increasing frequency of forest fires globally emphasizes the critical role of commoning practices for community resilience. Facing worsening climate-related emergencies, communities are adopting collective strategies to address shared threats and preserve vital resources. From 2001 to 2023, global forest fire areas increased by about 5.4% annually (World Resources Institute), with Mediterranean regions like Sicily experiencing a surge. The summer of 2023 marked Sicily’s worst fire season in a decade, affecting both rural and urban areas and with 24% more land burned than in 2021 (ARPA Sicilia), highlighting the need for adaptive, community-focused responses.
Muschio Ribelle’s squatting of the Funtanazza building on Monte Bonifato in Alcamo (TP) exemplifies such emergent commoning practices. Through the reclamation of Funtanazza—an abandoned site—they have modelled sustainable, collective management and active stewardship of the Bosco d’Alcamo. Their efforts emphasize environmental care and community-driven fire prevention. Through “guardiania,” a proactive fire prevention initiative, they achieved Monte Bonifato's first fire-free summer in five years, demonstrating the effectiveness of community-led risk mitigation.
Since its liberation in July 2024, the squat has become a hub for community gatherings and sustainable practices, managed inclusively by both long-standing residents and newcomers. Weekly assemblies gather community members for discussions on land care, social justice, and resilience. This approach to collective urban civic use aligns with similar commons-oriented initiatives spreading across Italian cities like Naples, where urban spaces are reclaimed as shared social, cultural, and ecological resources.
Despite successes, Muschio Ribelle faced forced eviction from Funtanazza in October 2024, interrupting its transformation into an urban emerging common. Nevertheless, the assembly remains undeterred, advocating for Funtanazza’s recognition as a community-managed commons. This effort challenges conventional property frameworks, asserting that shared resources should be democratically governed rather than privatized.
This experience shows how emergencies can catalyze emerging commons—collective spaces managed for the benefit of both people and the environment. Through democratic assemblies, consensus-based decision-making, and mutual support, Muschio Ribelle exemplifies the transformative power of commoning practices, where resilience and cohesion fortify communities, fostering sustainable futures amid climate-driven uncertainties.
