Role of institutions in global environmental change
The role of institutions in natural resource management is being increasingly recognized in the context of global environment change. Policy research and analysis carried out by institutions working in these areas normally focuses on international or national mechanisms and programmes. While it is accepted that these programmes contribute significantly to causing and confronting global environmental changes, the role of local institutions cannot be ignored. Therefore, it is necessary to study their role and build the capacity of local communities to environmental changes.
The main objective of this research is to study the role of institutions, especially the environmental and resource regimes, operating at the local level in global environmental change. The specific objectives are: (1) to identify feedbacks that exist between human and ecological systems that contribute to global environmental change; (2)to assess the impact of this global environmental change on local communities; (3) analyse the role that local institutions (formal and informal) play in causing and confronting (adapting and mitigation mechanisms) global environmental change; (4)to build the capacity of local communities to adapt to global environmental change.
This project involves the study of five ecosystems; traditional aquaculture systems in Goa, the coastal agriculture system in peri-urban Karnataka, bamboo forest systems in Haryana (all three in India), small-holder rubber cultivation in Sri Lanka, and the forest-watershed system of Nepal. It focuses on environmental and resource management regimes operating at the local level and their contribution (positive and negative) to global environmental change as well as adaptation (and mitigation) mechanisms against global environmental changes by the local communities and policy makers. It will also investigate best practices in the management of resources by learning from a variety of management systems and their dynamics.
The main objective of this research is to study the role of institutions, especially the environmental and resource regimes, operating at the local level in global environmental change. The specific objectives are: (1) to identify feedbacks that exist between human and ecological systems that contribute to global environmental change; (2)to assess the impact of this global environmental change on local communities; (3) analyse the role that local institutions (formal and informal) play in causing and confronting (adapting and mitigation mechanisms) global environmental change; (4)to build the capacity of local communities to adapt to global environmental change.
This project involves the study of five ecosystems; traditional aquaculture systems in Goa, the coastal agriculture system in peri-urban Karnataka, bamboo forest systems in Haryana (all three in India), small-holder rubber cultivation in Sri Lanka, and the forest-watershed system of Nepal. It focuses on environmental and resource management regimes operating at the local level and their contribution (positive and negative) to global environmental change as well as adaptation (and mitigation) mechanisms against global environmental changes by the local communities and policy makers. It will also investigate best practices in the management of resources by learning from a variety of management systems and their dynamics.