Beauty in CommonsPPT
The Nature of the CommonsThe nature of the commons is that they are held and...
The Nature of the CommonsThe nature of the commons is that they are held and used in common by a group of individuals. Commons can be tangible assets such as land, water, and natural resources, or intangible assets such as knowledge and culture. They can also be living resources such as fisheries or wildlife. Commons are often privately owned and controlled, but they can also be held and used in common without any form of centralized control. The Commons and the EnvironmentThe commons and the environment are closely related. The commons provide a setting for environmental resources, which can be natural resources such as air, water, soil, and biodiversity, to be used and managed by individuals and communities. Commons can also include cultural resources such as language and traditional knowledge. As such, the management of the commons has important consequences for the management of the environment, including for sustainable development. Commons ManagementCommons management refers to the activities and processes involved in the planning, implementation, and monitoring of activities related to the use and conservation of environmental and cultural commons resources. Commons management can take many forms, including traditional resource management practices by local communities based on their cultural values and environmental knowledge, to state-level decision-making processes that seek to balance environmental protection and economic development objectives. Commons management can also involve market-based mechanisms such as cap-and-trade programs or carbon offsets schemes. Commons ChallengesCommons challenges refer to the problems and conflicts that arise in managing commons resources. Commons challenges include:OverexploitationWhen resources are extracted or used faster than they can be replenished, leading to a decline in resource stocks or a degradation of resource qualityConflictWhen there is disagreement among users or stakeholders over how to manage commons resources, leading to disputes and sometimes violencePovertyWhen the poor who are dependent on commons resources are unable to access them due to factors such as poverty, gender discrimination, or corruption. Commons challenges can be compounded by government policies that do not take into account the realities of common resource use or by external events such as climate change that can affect resource stocks and access to them Commons StrategiesCommons strategies refer to actions taken to address commons challenges. Commons strategies include:Ecosystem-based ManagementThis strategy involves taking into account the interactions of people with their environment when managing natural resources, including commons resources. Ecosystem-based management can help ensure that resource extraction activities do not damage the environment or other resourcesCapacity BuildingThis strategy involves efforts to improve the skills and knowledge of individuals and communities to address commons challenges. Capacity building can involve education and training on resource management, conflict resolution skills, or efforts to promote public participation in decision makingMarkets and GovernanceThis strategy involves efforts to improve the governance of commons resources through market-based mechanisms such as cap-and-trade programs or carbon offsets schemes, or through better laws and regulations that ensure that resource users take into account the costs of their activities on the environment and other users