An Augmented Commons Model: The Potentials for Alternative Governance of Nationalpark Schwarzwald

This thesis analyzes the governance of Germany’s newest National Park (NP), Nationalpark Schwarzwald (NP SW) through the lens of an augmented Commons framework. To arrive at this analysis and chosen framework, the Commons model was initially explored in both its Western European historic usage and modern theoretical understanding. Commons and National Parks share goals of both conserving and sustaining resources for human and non-human populations. After determining that the scale and governance methods of Commons and National Parks were too incompatible for a useful analysis, the focus shifted to adding elements of the co-management governance model to the Commons model. After augmenting the Commons model, the NP SW is analyzed through that model.

This thesis queries whether an augmented Commons framework could be applied to NP SW to give locals voice and governing power over the National Park in their vicinity. The analysis examined official documents, opinion surveys, and local news stories to look for signs of formal or informal commoning and co-management strategies already present in the governing of the NP. This analysis provides an overview of the NP SW’s previous and current engagement methods with the local population so that an augmented Commons framework for the NP SW can be discussed as a concluding thought and future suggestion.