Ostrom's Law

Ostrom's Law states that “a resource shared by many people is more likely to be effectively managed when those people are also those who use or rely on it.” In other words, when communities or users who directly depend on a resource—like a fishing group managing a lake—are involved in its governance, they tend to create sustainable rules that benefit everyone. This principle highlights the importance of local participation and collective management in maintaining shared resources, encouraging cooperation, accountability, and adaptive solutions.