Sustainable management of common property resources in Uttarakhand: Factors at work

Common property resources (CPRs) play multiple roles in maintaining ecological and socio-economic sustainability in mountain environment of the Uttarakhand. Life in this region has evolved through an intricate, complex and dynamic interplay between man and nature. This study gives an overview of the ongoing practices pertaining to the management of three major CPRs i.e. Forest, Pasture and water, in the mountain villages of the Uttarakhand followed by identification and analysis of various factors influencing the sustainable management of these resources. The study reveals that the management of CPRs in the mountain villages of the Uttarakhand is significantly influenced by the various socio-economic, Bio-physical and external factors. The factors influencing the management of CPRs vary from village to village. Some of the village communities have developed their own rules and regulation for managing and harvesting their CPRs in sustainable way to meet their day-to-day demands, whereas in other villages, status of CPRs is worst. However, these CPRs embrace wide possibility of being the key for sustainable socio-economy of the user community in the Uttarakhand Himalayas. Though, age old social factors inherent in communities are quite difficult to be modified for enhancing the sustainable management and equitable allocation of common resources, the study recommends emphasizing on some key areas to cope up with tragedy of the commons in the Uttarakhand Himalayas.