Šmid Hribar, Mateja

In recent years, ecosystem services have become a major research area, but mainstream researchers typically overlook the reality that many commons regimes governing natural resources provide provisioning, regulating and even cultural ecosystem services—sometimes also called ‘Nature’s Contribution to People’ (e.g. Fisher et al. 2009; Barnaud et al. 2018; Šmid Hribar et al. 2023; Tucker et al. 2023).
Such commons not only play a vital role in maintaining biodiversity but also enhance ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration and water regulation, fire protection, recreation and similar. Therefore, this panel will examine the intersections among territorial commons and ecosystem services, and explore diverse perspectives that highlight innovative solutions and deepen understanding of the nexus between commons and ecosystem service provision.

This panel welcomes explorations of how commoners maintain and remake themselves and their commons to fit changing circumstances. Intergenerational transmission of practices and shared values, effective responses to social-economic and climatic change, and thoughtful evolution of institutions to manage shared resources are key to sustainable commons and successful commoning. Examples might include novel collaborations, innovations in governance and leadership, experimentation with new techniques and technologies, approaches for intentional learning, and emergence of new rationales for commoning and strategies for defending commons. Given current global challenges, this panel will recognize concerns, successes and challenges that arise for commoners as they undertake creative commoning amidst societal, political economic, and environmental uncertainties. Possible questions of interest encompass, but are not limited to: What types of transmission processes and innovations show promise for maintaining and renewing commons (natural and cultural)? To what extent do innovations and transmission efforts contribute to active engagement of people of all ages, genders and capacities with commons management and governance? How do innovations in commoning carry promise for strengthening communities, distributing economic benefits more equitably, and supporting environmental justice? What approaches have broader relevance for building and renewing local institutions to sustain communities and their commons over time?