Property rights regimes in complex fishery management in Tonle Sap: combining choice experiments and agent-based simulations

Overexploitation, conflicts and inequality in resource use are common consequences of many fishery management systems such as those in the developing countries. A better understanding of the spatial dynamics of fisheries and the causes of past failures in management is needed in order to provide more effective management systems. The small-scale inland fisheries in Tonle Sap are used as a case study in this thesis, as they combine property rights and conservation in the form of distinct management zones (private, common and conservation zones) with access to private fishing grounds determined through allocation of licences through an auction system. This thesis uses a choice experiment approach to investigate how this allocation system affects different groups of fishermen. The results indicate that the auction system is likely to further the advantages of better-off fishermen irrespective of the characteristics of fishing lots. This suggests that it is unlikely that the design of fishing lots in itself would be an effective way of securing access to fishing resources for all types of fishermen. Agent-based modelling is then used to examine the links between conservation and private property rights, through an analysis of the spatial effects of property rights and conservation, using different management system designs and focusing on the interactions between heterogeneous fishermen, fish biomass and fishing regulations. Private property is found to promote better fish biomass conditions on its own, but does not necessary generate the best conservation or socio-economic outcomes for fishing communities when evaluating the entire fishery. Conservation zones perform better when the reserves are located in baseline quality fish habitats and the reserve size is large. The results show how positive effects on fishery sustainability can be achieved. Effective management for subsistence fisheries can be designed using property rights and conservation areas, combined with other fishery regulations and enforcement, in order to ensure biological and socioeconomic sustainability

Assessing Farmers’ Preferences To Participate In Agri-environment Policies In Thailand

Incentive based policies can play an important role in improve agricultural sustainability. This paper applies a Choice Experiment approach to elicit small scale farmers’ preferences for a potential policy scheme. Latent class models were used to analyse the farmers’ responses to investigate their preferences, heterogeneity in preferences and the willingness to accept compensations. The results revealed that farmers are willing to participate however; overall they show an aversion to drastic changes in their farming activities. The analysis suggested that majority of the farmers preferred schemes with shorter contract lengths and moderate reduction in chemical use. Furthermore, the study also informs policy makers by identifying the farm and farmer characteristics that influence farmers’ behaviour

Evolutionary Game Analysis for Grassland Degradation Management, Considering the Livelihood Differentiation of Herders

Grassland degradation has become one of the most important ecological and environmental problems in the world, affecting the ecological balance of grassland and the welfare of residents. To reveal the impact mechanism of herders’ livelihood constraints on grassland degradation, and to explore the comprehensive management methods to ensure herders’ livelihoods and grassland ecological restoration, this paper constructed an evolutionary game model considering local governments and herders. It is found that the ideal stable equilibrium game can be achieved when certain conditions are met, that is, when the local governments actively regulate and herders moderate grazing, the grassland degradation caused by overgrazing can be reduced. The livelihood differentiation of herders significantly affects the stable equilibrium state of the evolutionary game. The local government’s regulation is the key to promoting moderate grazing of herders. The effect of incentive measures on the moderate grazing of herders is limited, while punishment measures can significantly restrict the excessive grazing behavior of herders. Policy support for household livelihood differentiation can effectively motivate herders to moderate grazing and achieve their survival and development needs to a greater extent through a non-grazing livelihood. The research results help decision-makers to formulate policies to combat grassland degradation, and promote the improvement of herders’ lives

Evolutionary Game Analysis for Grassland Degradation Management, Considering the Livelihood Differentiation of Herders

Grassland degradation has become one of the most important ecological and environmental problems in the world, affecting the ecological balance of grassland and the welfare of residents. To reveal the impact mechanism of herders’ livelihood constraints on grassland degradation, and to explore the comprehensive management methods to ensure herders’ livelihoods and grassland ecological restoration, this paper constructed an evolutionary game model considering local governments and herders. It is found that the ideal stable equilibrium game can be achieved when certain conditions are met, that is, when the local governments actively regulate and herders moderate grazing, the grassland degradation caused by overgrazing can be reduced. The livelihood differentiation of herders significantly affects the stable equilibrium state of the evolutionary game. The local government’s regulation is the key to promoting moderate grazing of herders. The effect of incentive measures on the moderate grazing of herders is limited, while punishment measures can significantly restrict the excessive grazing behavior of herders. Policy support for household livelihood differentiation can effectively motivate herders to moderate grazing and achieve their survival and development needs to a greater extent through a non-grazing livelihood. The research results help decision-makers to formulate policies to combat grassland degradation, and promote the improvement of herders’ lives