Common Asset Trusts

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* Article: Common asset trusts to effectively steward natural capital and ecosystem services at multiple scales. By Robert Costanza and Paul W.B. Atkins et al. Journal of Environmental Management. Volume 280, 15 February 2021

URL = https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0301479720317266

Effective CATs are based on Ostrom's 8 core design principle for commons management.

"Effective CATs embody a generalized version of Elinore Ostrom's eight core design principles for sustainable commons management:

(1) shared identity and purpose;

(2) equitable distribution of contributions and benefits;

(3) fair and inclusive decision-making;

(4) monitoring agreed behaviours;

(5) graduated responses;

(6) fast and fair conflict resolution;

(7) authority to self-govern; and

(8) collaborative relations with other groups and spatial scales.

Here, we describe a few existing and proposed systems that approximate effective CATs. We also suggest how Costa Rica can transform its existing payment for ecosystem services (PES) scheme into a national CAT. Finally, we describe how CATs can facilitate more fair and effective public/private partnerships (PPPs) to invest in natural capital and ecosystem services."