Common Pool Resources as a Source of Environmental Income

Much of the environmental income earned in the developing world comes from common pool resources (CPRs). Common pool resources are forests, fisheries, reefs, waterways, pastures, agricultural lands, and mineral resources that no individual has exclusive rights to. They are typically owned and administered by the state, a village, a tribe, or other social grouping, with the idea that the benefits will accrue to many people rather than one person or family. Local and distant residents go there to collect fire wood, graze their cattle, gather nontimber forest products like medicinal herbs or mushrooms, hunt, fish, collect water, or make use of a variety of other services such as visiting sacred groves. Because these