Drivers of change in fragile environments: challenges to governance in Indian wetlands

In densely populated coastal wetlands with rich biodiversity, multiple, but generally competing, economic activities are common. This paper adopts a polycentric perspective to the study of wetlands management in India to assess the scope for sustainable and equitable use of these remarkable and thre...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Narayanan, N.C., Venot, Jean-Philippe
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: 2009
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/40648
_version_ 1855541494102884352
author Narayanan, N.C.
Venot, Jean-Philippe
author_browse Narayanan, N.C.
Venot, Jean-Philippe
author_facet Narayanan, N.C.
Venot, Jean-Philippe
author_sort Narayanan, N.C.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description In densely populated coastal wetlands with rich biodiversity, multiple, but generally competing, economic activities are common. This paper adopts a polycentric perspective to the study of wetlands management in India to assess the scope for sustainable and equitable use of these remarkable and threatened ecosystems. The analytical framework proves to be useful and highlights that the intertwined processes of environmental and social changes result from, and shape, governance patterns. The three wetlands studied share commonalities in their trajectories: high population pressure, the enclosure of the commons and subsequent capitalization of resources and social marginalization, conflicting interests and intense local politics, a disconnect between global conservation discourses and local concerns, weak institutional arrangements, and global economic forces. The intense politics of access, control and use of natural resources challenge the implementation of a true polycentric regime in the Indian context due to a tendency to bureaucratization and a lack of participation, and existing limits to democratic citizenship. Creating a democratic space where multiple voices can be considered in the decision-making process remains a challenge. The paper concludes that inclusion of power and politics in the study of governance of natural resources should be of prime concern for researchers and decision makers.
format Journal Article
id CGSpace40648
institution CGIAR Consortium
language Inglés
publishDate 2009
publishDateRange 2009
publishDateSort 2009
record_format dspace
spelling CGSpace406482023-06-13T05:52:55Z Drivers of change in fragile environments: challenges to governance in Indian wetlands Narayanan, N.C. Venot, Jean-Philippe natural resources management governance bureaucracy wetlands lakes fishermen environmental degradation conflict economic aspects political aspects case studies In densely populated coastal wetlands with rich biodiversity, multiple, but generally competing, economic activities are common. This paper adopts a polycentric perspective to the study of wetlands management in India to assess the scope for sustainable and equitable use of these remarkable and threatened ecosystems. The analytical framework proves to be useful and highlights that the intertwined processes of environmental and social changes result from, and shape, governance patterns. The three wetlands studied share commonalities in their trajectories: high population pressure, the enclosure of the commons and subsequent capitalization of resources and social marginalization, conflicting interests and intense local politics, a disconnect between global conservation discourses and local concerns, weak institutional arrangements, and global economic forces. The intense politics of access, control and use of natural resources challenge the implementation of a true polycentric regime in the Indian context due to a tendency to bureaucratization and a lack of participation, and existing limits to democratic citizenship. Creating a democratic space where multiple voices can be considered in the decision-making process remains a challenge. The paper concludes that inclusion of power and politics in the study of governance of natural resources should be of prime concern for researchers and decision makers. 2009 2014-06-13T14:48:07Z 2014-06-13T14:48:07Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/40648 en Limited Access Narayanan, N. C.; Venot, Jean-Philippe. 2009. Drivers of change in fragile environments: challenges to governance in Indian wetlands. Natural Resources Forum, 33:320-333.
spellingShingle natural resources management
governance
bureaucracy
wetlands
lakes
fishermen
environmental degradation
conflict
economic aspects
political aspects
case studies
Narayanan, N.C.
Venot, Jean-Philippe
Drivers of change in fragile environments: challenges to governance in Indian wetlands
title Drivers of change in fragile environments: challenges to governance in Indian wetlands
title_full Drivers of change in fragile environments: challenges to governance in Indian wetlands
title_fullStr Drivers of change in fragile environments: challenges to governance in Indian wetlands
title_full_unstemmed Drivers of change in fragile environments: challenges to governance in Indian wetlands
title_short Drivers of change in fragile environments: challenges to governance in Indian wetlands
title_sort drivers of change in fragile environments challenges to governance in indian wetlands
topic natural resources management
governance
bureaucracy
wetlands
lakes
fishermen
environmental degradation
conflict
economic aspects
political aspects
case studies
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/40648
work_keys_str_mv AT narayanannc driversofchangeinfragileenvironmentschallengestogovernanceinindianwetlands
AT venotjeanphilippe driversofchangeinfragileenvironmentschallengestogovernanceinindianwetlands