Session 11. 8.

In New Jersey, the most densely populated state in the US, the matrix of trees growing along streets, in parks, schoolyards and other open spaces can be thought of as an urban commons, with a significant role to play in supporting the would-be global atmospheric commons. In these spaces, land tenure and tree tenure arrangements are often ambiguous and do not align consistently, and the management and health of the trees suffer as a consequence. At the same time, urban and community forests have been newly promoted for their critical importance and potential for climate mitigation and adaptation, rectifying environmental injustice, and multiple social co-benefits. Long subject to under-investment, this arena has recently received a massive influx of state, federal, and regional funding for tree-planting projects.

In New Jersey, the efficacy of this flow of dollars is being constrained by limitations in tree nursery supply chains, suitable planting space, expertise, and institutional capacity. While the ambiguity in tenurial status and managerial responsibility may further constrain tree numbers and survival, at the same time these gaps, coupled with the new resource flows, may be opening the door to more and diverse involvement in tree stewardship.

This practitioner presentation will explore how these factors are playing out in New Jersey, based on the varied urban and community forestry initiatives of Sustainable Jersey, a non-profit municipal and school certification program and support network, including a $4.5 million tree-planting grant program for public schools and colleges and the promotion community forestry management plans, tree protection ordinances, and other of best management practices

Leveraging collective action for resource sustainability has become increasingly important in a context of high climate uncertainty, and continued resource exploitation. But engaging in collective action requires coordination and communication among individuals in order to make and implement resource allocation, use and management decisions. Institutions, or the set of formal and informal rules and regulations that govern human behavior, play a crucial role in mediating collective responses to shared resource governance challenges. Rapid urbanization leads to social and institutional transitions, often creating uncertainty and impacting the ways in which people interact and engage in collective action for meeting sustainability goals. This study aims to understand how urban transitions influence collective decision-making for shared resource governance using the case of groundwater in India, the largest user in the world. With a focus on peri-urban Bangalore, one of the fastest urbanizing regions in the country, the study applies the Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) Framework to investigate shifts in institutional factors that impact the appropriation, provisioning and management of groundwater in a peri-urban setting. We will employ content analysis to analyze data obtained via semi-structured interviews with key actors – farmers, residents, government officials, local representatives – who are closely involved in decision-making around groundwater use and management. In addition, policy documents that outline rules and regulations around groundwater access, use and management will be analyzed to understand the formal institutional arrangements that inform groundwater decision-making. We hypothesize that urban transition exacerbates institutional uncertainty, creating confusion around shared goals, actors involved, and rules in use, thereby reducing propensity for collective action. Understanding these dynamics is essential for developing strategies to manage natural resources sustainably amid urban growth and development pressures.

Urban agglomeration can be an effective engine of growth in a developing country. Yet, urban authorities often struggle to deliver cost-effective, quality public services leaving behind chaotic ungoverned urban spaces (Kelkar, 2019)

Social cooperation often hinges on shared history, values, and resources. Provision of commons requires social interaction, social networking, shared understanding, and social cooperation. A distinct characteristic of the urban space is that it is necessary to share space and resources with strangers. Conversely, Ostrom’s governance system requires a stable group of users, establishing the rules of usage, speed, and accuracy in detecting any deviation from the established rules, and using graduated sanctions to enforce the established rules. The transient nature of the urban landscape provides a formidable challenge for social relationships and becomes an impediment to creating cohesive communities.

The lack of public service in developing countries gives people an incentive to cooperate and either self-provide or participate in the provisioning of urban commons. Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) are voluntary associations that have spontaneously sprung up across urban India with the aim of either collectively lobbying the local governmental institutions for more local resources or self-providing community resources. The community resources that RWAs often deal with are community parks, timely upkeep of streets, organising socio-religious community events, ensuring security, and provision of electricity and water. Using a small sample qualitative survey, user-group, and focus-group interviews, we plan to use a case-study approach to examine why and how a selected urban residential park thrives amidst changing population, demographic, and environmental pressures. We will also map the flow of information and the ability to coordinate between relevant actors in the polycentric governance ecosystem. We would like to understand how creating a space RWAs in the polycentric governance ecosystem can create cohesive urban communities which can increase the quality and reduce the cost of public service provision.

Keywords: Commons; urban; RWAs; Green spaces; Social cooperation