Degradation and re-emergence of the commons: The impacts of government policies on traditional resource management institutions in China. Issue 52 (October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tang, Ruifei; Gavin, Michael C.
• Is Part Of: Environmental science & policy. Issue 52(2015:Oct.)
• Page Start: 89
• Page End: 98
• Publication Date: 2015-10
• Subjects: Traditional resource management institutions -- Re-emergence of the commons -- Cooperative organization -- Government policy -- Inner Mongolia -- China; Environmental policy -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Environnement -- Politique gouvernementale -- Périodiques; Sciences de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Environmental policy; Environmental sciences; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.70561
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envsci.2015.04.023
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1462-9011

Abstract

Highlights: We analyze the historical Chinese government policy changes over the last 60 years. We demonstrate the degradation of Mongolian traditional resource management institutions caused by those government policy changes. We also highlight how local actors have used recent changes in government policies to revitalize traditional herding institutions which led to the re-emergence of the commons from the bottom-up. Abstract: In the vast majority of cases studied to date, rapid changes in indigenous resource management institutions and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) have been reported with profound implications for indigenous livelihoods, biodiversity, and system resilience worldwide. In this case study, we examined how policy changes in China over the past 60 years have influenced indigenous resource management institutions designed to manage common pool pastoral systems in eastern Inner Mongolia. Based on semi-structured interviews ( n = 91), focus group discussions (64 participants involved), and participant observation, we found that for over half a century rescaling efforts by the Chinese government shifted the focus to national level development planning, which led to the degradation of indigenous institutions that managed common pool pastoral systems in the region. However, we also highlight how local actors have used recent changes in government policies to revitalize traditional herding institutions. This provides a rare glimpse at the re-emergence of the commons from the bottom up.