Collective management of environmental commons with multiple usages: a guaranteed viability approach

Abstract: In this paper we address the collective management of environmental commons with multiple usages in the framework of the mathematical viability theory. We consider that the stakeholders can derive from the study of their own socioeconomic problem the variables describing their different usages of the commons and its evolution, and a representation of the desirable states for the commons. We then consider the guaranteed viability kernel, subset of the set of desirable states where it is possible to maintain the state of the commons even when its evolution is represented by several conflicting models. This approach is illustrated on a problem of lake eutrophication.