Thursday, November 20, 2008 - forestrynepal.org

Promise, Trust and Evolution: Managing the Commons of South Asia

Publication Information
book_ghate.jpg
Title: 
Promise, Trust and Evolution: Managing the Commons of South Asia
Authors: 
Rucha Ghate
Authors: 
Narpat Jodha
Authors: 
Pranab Mukhopadhyay
Copyright: 
2008
ISBN: 
0199213836
Pages: 
368
Publisher: 
Oxford University Press, UK
Synopsis: 

From land management to water rights, this volume looks at the current status of Common Property Resources, or CPRs, in South Asia. Developed countries, have managed to establish well-defined property rights over numerous resources and in some instances extended non-exclusionary rights over privately owned resources over an extended period of time. In the developing world, however, the share of community property is extensive, either as a response to an expanding market or because the exposure to markets in still in its nascent stage. This coupled with the demands of globalization, has led to the co-existence of both community ownership of resources as well as an evolving private property rights market.

This tension between public versus private ownership rights is particularly relevant in the developing countries of South Asia, not only because of its shared history but also because of its resources frequently cross national boundaries. This book tells the story of CPRs and the commons in a rapidly changing South Asia. Including contributions from those working with natural resources in Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, the papers discuss issues such as equity in distribution; efficiency and productivity of resources; sustainability of resources; and institutional transition and governance.

Contents: 

Introduction

Part I Issues and Challenges

  1. Common Property Resources: Economic Analytics , Partha Dasgupta
  2. Some Places Again: A 'Restricted' Revisit to Dry Regions of India , Narpat Jodha
  3. Decentralization, Devolution, And Collective Action - A Review of International Experience , Priya Shyamsundar

Part II Evolution and Transitions

  1. Does afforestation ensure sustainability? A study of the Haors of Bangladesh , A.K. Enamul Haque
  2. A Tale of Three Villages: Practiced Forestry in India , Rucha Ghate
  3. The Stake-Net Fishery Association Of Negombo Lagoon, Sri Lanka - Why Has it Survived over 250 Years and Will it Survive Another 100 Years? , Asha Gunawardana and Paul Steele
  4. Transaction Costs and Institutional Innovation: Sustainability of Tank Aquaculture in Sri Lanka , Athula Senarathne and Kalpa Karunanayake
  5. Irrigation Management - Does Bottom up work better than Top Down in Sri Lanka ? , Gamini Herath

Part III Livelihoods and Distribution

  1. Heterogeneity, Commons, and Privatization: Agrarian Change in Goa , Pranab Mukhopadhyay
  2. Is Cooperation Costly with Diverse Economic Agents? , Bhim Adhikari
  3. Who pays for Conservation: Evidence from Forestry in Nepal , Arun Khatri-Chhetri
  4. Community Tanks vs. Private Wells: Coping Strategies and Sustainability Issues in South India , R. Balasubramanian

Part IV Statutory and Customary Law

  1. Tradition and Sovereignty: Conflicts over Dir-Kohistan's Forests , Shaheen Rafi Khan
  2. Is the state passe? Competing domains in forestry in Orissa , Arabinda Mishra
  3. Efficiency and Low Costs Under Non-limiting Supply Conditions in Bhutan , Edward. L. Webb and Lam Dorji
  4. So Far So Good: Next Steps in Community Forestry , Keshav Raj Kanel