Multi-Level Complexities in Governing the Commons

Global knowledge applied at global scale (1) runs the risk of producing simplistic "blueprint" solutions similar to those that have previously led to many of the problems facing society today, and (2) simply does not work in many cases because of complexities of space and time. Using two examples (biodiversity conservation and “roving bandits”), I discuss why it is necessary in many cases to deal with local knowledge and local institutions. Potential solutions often require the creation horizontal and vertical linkages for two-way knowledge exchange among various levels of governance. Regarding the first example, biodiversity conservation can be treated as a multi-level commons problem. Biodiversity is a global commons, important for humanity as a whole, a regional commons important for ecotourism and other benefits, and a local commons that produces ecosystem services for human well-being at the community level. Without linkages and knowledge exchange among these levels, long-term conservation cannot be achieved. Regarding the second example, “roving bandits” produce a globalized variant of the tragedy of the commons. They are highly mobile fishing enterprises or buyers and their local harvesters. They move around the globe, exploiting resources in response to rapidly changing global market opportunities, depleting the resource base from one area and moving on to the next. Solutions are difficult and involve multi-level governance: enforcing local rights to the commons; local monitoring with regional coordination; developing local stewardship; and using flexible management approaches that can adapt to rapid change.