The Common Pool Resource Heatmap: A Tool to Drive Changes in Water Law and Governance

Jacqui Robertson

doi:10.3390/w13213110

Abstract

Anticipated water-related impacts of climate change heighten the need for tools supporting proactive efforts to address current and future conflicts involving water. Analysing a regulatory framework for a water resource using Ostrom’s (1990) Common Pool Resource (CPR) theory can assist in identifying regulatory weaknesses that may contribute to deterioration of the resource and conflicts between resource users. Equally, adopting adaptive management to transform the regulatory context can also have positive effects. However, if incentives drive resource extractor behaviours, a tool to communicate these initiatives with stakeholders, including state actors, could assist. This article presents the ‘CPR heat map’ to assist with efforts to drive changes in water governance. An example of the CPR heatmap is presented involving the governance of groundwater in the Surat Cumulative Management Area, Queensland, Australia. This example shows how perceived weaknesses and strengths of the governance framework can be illustrated. It also shows how initiatives that are transforming water governance can be presented to drive social learning. The CPR heat map illustrates the collective nature of the resource system and how to potentially resolve and manage water-related conflict. This research has implications for how we approach conflict involving water and may be also relevant for managing other CPRs.

Highlights

Tensions and conflict between water users occur when demand exceeds supply, and climate change and global warming [1,2] will likely act as accelerants to these dynamics
This may explain the ongoing conflict between resource users in that context and why the resource continues to deteriorate in some areas
Finding a balance between using and conserving a resource can be enabled by interactive and flexible governance arrangements, which complement centralised governance, and which provide for joint knowledge production and exchange [126]

Summary

Introduction

Tensions and conflict between water users occur when demand exceeds supply, and climate change and global warming [1,2] will likely act as accelerants to these dynamics. In. Australia, predicted impacts of climate change are generally: higher evaporation of surface water, increasing droughts, varying rainfall, increasing flood events and severe storms [3]. Australia, predicted impacts of climate change are generally: higher evaporation of surface water, increasing droughts, varying rainfall, increasing flood events and severe storms [3] This affects the quantum of future water resources available for consumptive use and for the environment, and places pressure on our regulatory frameworks to manage competing interests. Sustainable management of water resources requires the opposite: initiatives that manage both the long-term health of the overall resource as well as addressing conflict [7]. If the goal is sustainable management of water resources, this requires proactive initiatives outside of crisis management

Objectives

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion