Inclusive Sustainability Approaches in Common-Pool Resources from the Perspective of Blackologists

The tragedy of the commons posits that depletion of common resources harms all stakeholders. Although such a downward spiral is plausible, the potential outcomes are far more complex. In the present article, we report on this coupled feedback between resource strategies and the environment from the perspective of Blackologists. We fully embrace that our understanding and appreciation for nature are inherently shaped by our identity, culture, and lived experiences. First, we deconstruct the uses and beneficiaries of the shared resource. Then, we identify potential cascades of conflict through the lens of resource partitioning, plasticity, and mitigation strategies recognizing the inherent human dimension nested within these dynamics. We emphasize that who studies these processes can alter the framing and outcome of the tragedy through several case studies. We recommend that avoidance of environmental tragedies is possible with inclusive engagement, interdisciplinarity, and oversight at different spatial and temporal scales.

Automated summary

The tragedy of the commons theory suggests that the depletion of common resources harms all stakeholders, but the actual outcomes are more complex. This article explores the interconnected feedback between resource strategies and the environment through the perspective of Blackologists, highlighting the influence of identity, culture, and lived experiences on our understanding and appreciation of nature. By deconstructing the uses of shared resources and identifying potential conflicts through resource partitioning, plasticity, and mitigation strategies, the article emphasizes the human dimension within these dynamics and how different studies and approaches can impact the outcome. Recommendations for avoiding environmental tragedies include inclusive engagement, interdisciplinarity, and oversight at various scales.