Regional Mountain Conference

The management of common-pool resources such as water, forests and pastureland in the small mountain village of Törbel in the Swiss canton of Valais gained worldwide attention through studies by the anthropologist Robert Netting and economist Elinor Ostrom. Törbel was considered a prime example of the thesis that natural resources such as water, pastureland and forests can be managed successfully and sustainably by the local community over centuries. However, the profound socio-economic, socio-cultural and technological developments and transformations of recent decades have not left the Valais untouched. As a result, the environment and infrastructure, as well as the lives and lifestyles of the inhabitants of Törbel, have changed significantly. The presentation explores the question of whether the theory on successful common property regimes still hold true today and will continue to do so in the future in Alpine mountain villages. The hypothesis is that the common property regime, which ensured the survival of the inhabitants of Törbel for many centuries, has now been greatly eroded and its significance has changed. It could continue to play an important role in terms of landscape conservation and strengthening the village structure. The study is based on empirical field research conducted in the study region in 2025.