Environment, Enterprise and Development

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Browsing Environment, Enterprise and Development by Author "Nayak, Prateep K."

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    Linking Property Rights with Environmental Changes: The case of Nurerri and Jubho Lagoons, PakistanLinking Property Rights with Environmental Changes: The case of Nurerri and Jubho Lagoons, Pakistan
    (University of Waterloo, 2015-09-22) Sultana, Sajida; Nayak, Prateep K.; Armitage, Derek R. (Derek Russel), 1967-
    Coastal lagoons play a vital role in supporting human well-being and the conservation of unique biological resources. They are crucial for the protection of the coastline from extreme events like floods, and for providing diverse livelihood opportunities to people. However, coastal lagoons face a range of threats from multiple drivers at local, regional and global scales, and those drivers are both anthropogenic and climatic in nature. In this thesis, I use a commons approach to examine changes in property rights regime in the Nurerri and Jubho lagoons of Pakistan to better understand their linkages with processes of environmental change. Both Nurerri and Jubho Lagoons are designated Ramsar sites inthe Indus delta of Pakistan, which is the world’s fifth largest delta system. The entire region, which includes a number of other important wetlands, has undergone serious degradation over the past three decades. This research considers the history of changes in the property rights regime in relation to the processes of environmental change. My main focus is to understand the extent to which environmental changes (i.e. reduced fresh water flow, recurrent floods, industrial pollution, and sea inundation) and changes in property rights (i.e. state property, communal property, partially open access, individual / private control) influence each other in times of uncertainty and how these changes affect the local communities. I also focus on the key drivers that influence these changes. I use a qualitative approach that offers a direction to my research and participatory methods for data collection. Findings indicate that there is a two-way feedback between environmental changes in the two lagoons and the system of property rights that shifted from a commons arrangement (mid 1970s) to being privately owned and then to a contractor system (1980s onward) before coming back to a commons arrangement in 2008. However, loss in the key physical and environmental features of the lagoons raises fundamental questions about sustaining / re-establishing commons even though policies are in place. I conclude with suggestions on sustaining lagoon commons for the future through crafting innovative governance arrangements that combine dynamic processes of change both in the physical and social spheres.
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    Social-ecological system change and adaptation: A case of Chilika lagoon small-scale fishery, India
    (University of Waterloo, 2015-09-23) Selvaraj, Ashok; Nayak, Prateep K.; Armitage, Derek R. (Derek Russel), 1967-
    Coastal lagoons are highly productive ecosystems and many fisher communities depend on the ecosystem services for their livelihoods. Unfortunately, due to anthropogenic stressors these lagoons are undergoing severe environmental changes that are impacting local fisher communities. To cope and adapt to with the changes in lagoon social-ecological systems, fisher communities are using their local knowledge. Using Chilika lagoon on the east coast of India near the Bay of Bengal as a case, I examined a range of drivers that have caused changes in the social-ecological system of the lagoon and the various adaptation options fishers consider when faced with extreme environmental and social changes. In particular, I analyse the role of local fishers’ knowledge in crafting various adaptation strategies. Semi-structured and focus-group interviews were used to collect data in the field over a three month period. Analysis of qualitative data showed that the major drivers of changes in the lagoon are: a) opening of new sea mouth; b) change in fishing techniques; and c) increase in shrimp aquaculture. Results showed that there are no long term adaptation strategies in the fisher community, and the adaptation strategies themselves act as drivers of change in the social-ecological system. Communication gaps and conflict between the fisher communities is further limiting adaptation in the fisher community.