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

From land management to water right, this volume looks at the current status of Common Property Resources (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 is 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 its resources frequently cross national boundaries. This book tells the story of CPRs in a rapidly changing South Asia including contributions from those working with natural resources in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The papers discuss issues such as equity, sustainability, efficiency, and productivity of resources, institutional transition and governance.