| Variable Type | Ordinal |
|---|---|
| Variable Component Type | Actor |
| Variable Kind | Interaction |
| Theme | Incentives (learn about themes) |
| Projects | SESMAD, Fiji fisheries |
| Question | How dependent are the members of the group on this commons for their cultural well-being? |
| Select Options | 1 Not dependent or Slightly dependent, 2 Moderately dependent, 3 Very dependent |
| Unit | |
| Role | CommonsUser |
| Importance | Cultural dependence on a commons provides a glimpse into aspects of an actor group that encourage sustainable resource usage beyond mere economic drivers. Cultural influences could include the importance of a resource in their religion or spiritual belief system, in aspects of their everyday life, and may often go beyond use values. Resource dependency as a part of a group’s culture has been shown to drive decision-making regarding the governance of a resource in ways that go beyond governance of a resource driven by purely economic or use criteria. While not universally a driver of sustainability, cultural dependence often provides a strong defense of sustainable usage. It may help promote legitimacy, strong monitoring (no little need for external monitoring due to strong social norms for acceptable practice), and an alternative set of sanctions that include shaming or ostracism (Berkes et al. 1994). |
| Definition | "Cultural Dependence refers to the extent to which members of the actor group rely on the commons to maintain their culture. For pollutants this would mean that they are culturally reliant on the process that produces the pollutant (e.g. swidden agriculturalists produce smoke which contributes to air pollution) Slightly dependent: The actor group derives no or very little of its cultural well being from the use of this commons. Very Dependent: The actor group derives most or all of their cultural well being from the use of this commons." |
| Sectors |