4.2.1 Eco-stewardship of nature

Helpful prior knowledge and learning objectives

Helpful prior learning:


Learning objectives:

A group of farmers in the dry lands of New Mexico, USA have had a harmonious relationship with water for over four hundred years through a system of community supported irrigation canals called acequias

Unlike many modern water systems, acequias are not just about moving water from one place to another. They are an example of a deeper, culture of stewardship that ensures water is shared fairly and used sustainably (Figure 1). Each year, members of the acequia community gather for the annual ritual of clearing the ditches, maintaining a tradition that balances human needs with the dynamics of the water cycle and wider ecosystems, while strengthening people’s social connections.

This is a living example of what eco-stewardship of nature looks like—a relationship where the land, water, and people thrive together.

Figure 1. Acequias are not just about moving water from one place to another. They are about ensuring that water is shared fairly and used sustainably.

(Credit: Matthew.kowal, CC BY-SA 4.0)

What does it mean to steward nature?

Figure 2. Eco-stewardship of nature is the active responsibility to care for and regenerate ecosystems as we interact with them to meet human needs

(Credit: nareekarn, Adobe Stock licence)

Humans are living organisms. Like all other living organisms, we rely on energy, physical materials, and ecosystem interactions to survive and thrive. From ancient hunter-gatherer societies to modern day urban communities, every human being is completely connected with – and dependent on – the rest of the natural world (Section 1.2.1). We have a responsibility to protect the natural systems, even as we interact with them to meet human needs. Eco-stewardship means actively caring for ecosystems and ensuring that resources are used in ways that benefit both current and future generations.

The big question is, how do we make sure that vulnerable resources, like water or forests, are shared fairly and not overexploited? Over time, communities around the world have developed systems of governance—sets of rules and norms that guide people on how to use, protect, and share resources (Section 4.1.3). They have found creative ways to balance human needs with nature’s limits—often succeeding where modern states and markets struggle. These systems aren’t created overnight. They are the result of long processes of trial and error, and deliberate development of social practices and systems as communities learn what works and what doesn’t.

To go back to the opening example, the acequia communities in New Mexico have learned over generations how to conserve and distribute water in a dry climate. Their governance system ensures that every member gets a fair share of water while also limiting its use.  Enough water must be kept in the ecosystem to recharge the groundwater, nourish trees and vegetation, and support local wildlife. This is a remarkable achievement when you consider that nearby communities not using commoning have seen their water supplies dwindle due to poorly managed infrastructure design and maintenance, social practices, and economic growth.

Agroecology, a way of farming that works with nature instead of against it, is another example. Agroecology focuses on creating healthy, balanced ecosystems that can produce food while restoring the land. Farmers use techniques like crop rotation, planting diverse crops, and composting to improve soil health and prevent pests naturally, without relying on harmful chemicals. Agroecology also values local knowledge, encouraging communities to share and adapt farming methods that suit their environment. By respecting the connection between people, plants, animals, and the land, agroecology can support farming that benefits both current and future generations.

How are eco-stewardship and subsistence commons related?

Subsistence economies are systems that meet people’s basic household needs—food, water, shelter—through a direct and harmonious relationship with local resources, often engaging in commoning. Instead of relying on large-scale industries or distant markets and state organisation, people directly meet their needs by living within the natural rhythms and limits of their local environments, or bioregions (Section 3.4.3). 

Map of global bioregions

Figure 3. Bioregions of the world

(Credit: Karl Burkart, One Earth)

This way of living is grounded in the idea that each region has unique characteristics—its own climate, soils, plants, and animals—that shape how people interact with and care for the land. Picture families in a rural area gathering firewood from nearby forests, harvesting fruits and vegetables suited to their local soil, or using traditional herbs to treat illnesses. Harvesting may occur through direct household, village, or community cooperation – or through groups such as community-supported agriculture (Section 4.2.2), cooperatives, and local markets that respect ecological limits. Knowledge of local ecosystems and how to interact with them sustainably is passed down through generations, a process called socio-ecological memory.

A farmer working in a rice paddy

Figure 4. More than 2 billion people depend on subsistence commons, about 25% of the global population. 

(Credit: Dhenny Napitupulu, Pexels Licence)

Subsistence commoning isn’t just about survival. It reflects a way of life that aligns with local ecosystems and nurtures a deep respect for the natural world. More than two billion people depend on subsistence commons, about 25% of the global population. But economists often view this significant provisioning of human needs as backward or insignificant, because it takes places outside of large-scale markets. These activities are often not tracked and quantified by economists.

However, this bioregional approach to meeting human needs is resilient and adaptable, because it is oriented on human needs and sufficiency, or having enough, rather than endless accumulation and market growth. It provides social and ecological resilience precisely because it is grounded in the local ecology and people’s personal connections to the place where they live.

Communities engaging in subsistence commoning develop a deep understanding of the land, rivers, forests, or coastal areas they depend on. They know they cannot take too much or damage these resources, or they risk losing their livelihoods. Eco-stewardship is built into these economies. People harvest only what they need, rotate grazing areas to avoid overuse, and respect seasonal cycles for fishing or planting—all practices that align with the unique conditions of their local ecosystem.

In modern economies, wealth is often defined in terms of money and material possessions. But in subsistence commons, wealth has a deeper meaning. It’s about having reliable access to shared resources that support a community’s needs and shape its identity.  For example, many people in the Pacific Northwest regard the geographic area as “Salmon Nation,” and the Quechua tribes of Peru take pride in their stewardship of  the region’s biodiverse potatoes (Figure 5). While the gifts of nature may sometimes be sold in markets, the land, water, and wildlife are not simply regarded as resources to be exploited for profit. They are seen as care-wealth that is closely connected to the local ecosystem and everyone’s well-being.

Photograph of different potato varieties, different colours and shapes

Figure 5. Quechua tribes of Peru take pride in their stewardship of  the region’s biodiversity of potato varieties.

(Credit: Erik González, Adobe Stock licence)

Activity 4.2.1

Concept: Regeneration

Skills: Thinking skills (transfer)

Time: varies, depending on the option

Type: Individual, pairs, or small group


Option 1: Case study of eco-stewardship

Time: 30 minutes

Below is a case study of eco-stewardship of nature in Andhra Pradesh, India. Read the case study and discuss or write responses to the following questions to help you make connections to the ideas in Section 4.2.1.

Case Study - Click to open

In the dry and challenging environment of Andhra Pradesh, India, seed-sharing among dalit women has transformed local communities and their land. These women have faced severe poverty and discrimination for centuries. They once worked as poorly paid labourers, often unable to afford enough food to feed their families. 

Today, thanks to a project started by the Deccan Development Society (DDS), they have become self-sufficient farmers.  The women have done this by growing a wide variety of traditional crops suited to their local soil and climate. This kind of farming respects the natural limits of their ecosystem and helps preserve it.

The DDS project began in 1983 with a simple goal: to help the women eat two meals a day. However, it quickly grew into something much bigger. The women learned how to recover and share old, traditional seeds that had almost disappeared. They created a seed-sharing system within their community, where everyone could access a variety of seeds without having to buy expensive genetically modified seeds from the market. This way, they became less dependent on external sources and more connected to their local environment.

The women also restored the health of the soil by using natural fertilisers and pest control methods. They practised vermicomposting, which is a technique of using worms to turn organic waste into rich soil. They also applied neem leaves, a natural pesticide, to protect their crops from insects. Over time, their soil became more fertile, and their crops grew stronger and healthier.

In addition to farming, the women created rules and systems to share their food and knowledge. They formed village sanghams—self-organised groups that work together to solve problems, make decisions and educate each other and pass down knowledge to younger generations. Through these sanghams, the women set up a community grain storage system, called a buffer stock in economics, to ensure that food would be available during difficult times, like droughts or bad harvests. They developed a system to ensure that grain was distributed fairly within their community. The sanghams also started food kitchens to feed the people in their village too poor, disabled or elderly to raise their own crops.

The women’s success in eco-stewardship is especially impressive when you compare it to the Green Revolution. The Green Revolution, which began in the 1960s, introduced new farming techniques, such as monoculture (growing one type of crop) and chemical fertilisers, to increase food production. While it helped to reduce hunger in many places, it also led to environmental damage and made many farmers dependent on expensive seeds and chemicals.

Option 2: Learning about your bioregion

Time: 30 minutes



Option 3: Reflecting on eco-stewardship beyond a rural context

Time: 20 minutes

Many students reading this book may not live in a rural area where eco-stewardship is more visible. Consider your own situation in your local context. 

You could discuss this in general terms, or even brainstorm what this would actually look like in your neighbourhood.


Ideas for longer activities and projects are listed in Subtopic 4.5 Taking action

Checking for understanding

Further exploration

Sources

Bollier, D.  (2025). “5. Many Galaxies of Commons.” Think Like a Commoner, 2nd edition. Gabriola Island: New Society Publishers. https://www.thinklikeacommoner.com/

Deccan Development Society. (n.d.). Deccan Development Society. https://www.ddsindia.org/

One Earth. (2023). Bioregions 2023. Retrieved November 25, 2024, from https://www.oneearth.org/bioregions-2023/

Open Source Seeds. (n.d.). Open Source Seeds: Freeing seeds for farmers and gardeners. Retrieved November 25, 2024, from https://www.opensourceseeds.org/en

Terminology (in order of appearance)

Link to Quizlet interactive flashcards and terminology games for Section 4.2.1 Eco-stewardship of nature


irrigation: a system to water plants

system: a set of interdependent parts that organise to create a functional whole

culture: the beliefs, values, attitudes, behaviours and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next

stewardship: the job of supervising or taking care of something, such as an organisation or ecosystem

sustainability: meeting people’s needs within the means of the planet

ritual: ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order

water cycle: the stocks and flows of all water on Earth

eco-stewardship: the job of supervising or taking care of an ecosystem

energy: the ability to do work or cause change

ecosystem: the interaction of groups of organisms with each other and their physical environment

overexploit: to use a resource excessively

governance: the process of overseeing the control and direction of something

norm: a social rule for accepted and expected behaviour, can be stated or unstated

state: a system that provides essential public services, and also governs and regulates other economic institutions

market: a system where people buy and sell goods and services for a price.

conserve: to protect something of environmental or cultural importance from harm or destruction

groundwater: water that collects underground in soil or in rock crevices and pores

commoning: when a group of people self-organise to manage shared resources

infrastructure: large scale physical systems that a society needs to function (roads, railways, electricity networks, etc)

economic growth: an increase in the total value of goods and services produced in a period of time

agroecology: a type of sustainable farming that works with nature

crop rotation: growing of different crops in succession on a piece of land to avoid exhausting the soil and to control weeds, pests, and diseases

compost: to collect and store plant material so it can decay and be added to soil to improve its quality

subsistence economy: an economy in which people produce food, clothes, and other basic necessities for their own use, and where these goods are not bought or sold

bioregion: a region defined by characteristics of the natural environment rather than by human-made divisions

community-supported agriculture (CSA): a system in which a farm operation is supported by the community who share both the benefits and risks of food production

cooperative: an organisation owned and controlled by people to meet their common economic, social, and/or cultural needs

socio-ecological memory: the experiences and history of ecosystem management collectively held by a community

subsistence commons: a commons in which people produce food, clothes, and other basic necessities for their own and shared use

resilient: able to recover after a disturbance

sufficient: when there is enough of something

wealth: the total value (stock) of someone’s assets such as money, house, or investments

biodiversity: the variety of living organisms on Earth

profit: total revenue minus total cost

care-wealth: shared wealth that is created when people take care of forests, water, data, or urban spaces, and adopt these resources into their shared memory, culture, social lives, and identities