Managing common pool resources

Common Pool Resources (CPRS) (or natural resources used by people in common) constitute a significant proportion of the earth's total endowment. Most such resources, as everyone's cradle and nobody's baby, are over-exploited and neglected, subject to what Garrett Hardin in 1968 expressively termed the 'tragedy of the commons.

India has nearly 100 million hectares of common pool land, about 30 million hectares of common pool forests, and the bulk of its water resources and fisheries are CPRs. Their restoration and management is crucial to the well-being of millions of the rural poor who depend upon them for a livelihood, and beyond that lies their relevance to the widespread environmental concerns of recent years so cogently voiced at the Earth Summit in June 1992.

This unique work combines both theoretical and empirical approaches to CPR development and management. It is divided into three parts. Part I addresses basic concepts: the role of CPRS, theoretical models for analysing CPR problems, alternative CPR management systems, instruments of CPR policy, decision-making tools and techniques. Part II comprises nine case studies of different forms of CPR management from various parts of India. These indicate that success can be achieved under various management systems and that there is no single best system appropriate for all situations and all times. The author argues in favour of an eclectic approach and underlines the need to maintain an appropriate balance between different systems of management. Part III synthesizes the insights gleaned from the review of the literature and analytical lessons and conclusions drawn from the case studies into a coherent and environmentally sound policy for development and management of CPRs.

Organized for convenience of access and presented with clarity and precision, the book has been written primarily as a text for graduate and post-graduate students of natural resource economics and participants in short-term training programmes. It is however also likely to prove a handy and useful reference work for CPR management scholars, policy-makers, planners, and managers.