Question

Write meaning of “Common Property Resources”.

Hint:

Differentiate CPRs from "open-access resources" (which have no rules and can lead to the 'tragedy of the commons') and "state property" (which is owned and managed by the government). The key to CPRs is community-based management.

Answer 1

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
"Common Property Resources" (CPRs) refer to resources that are not owned privately by an individual or exclusively by the state, but are managed and utilized collectively by a community.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The meaning of Common Property Resources has two key aspects:
1. Collective Ownership: The resource is owned by a community as a whole. No single member has an exclusive right to it.
2. Community Management: Access to and use of the resource are governed by a set of rules, norms, and traditions defined by the community itself. This system ensures sustainable use and equitable sharing of the resource among its members.
Examples include village ponds, community forests, grazing grounds (pastures), and local water bodies.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Common Property Resources are resources that are owned and managed by a community, where all members have access and usage rights determined by shared rules, rather than being owned by individuals or the government.