Individual restraints when using common-pool resources are necessary to prevent?

Individual restraints when using common-pool resources are necessary to prevent the tragedy of the commons, which refers to a situation where individuals, acting in their own self-interest, deplete or degrade a shared resource. This concept illustrates how shared resources, like fisheries, forests, or water supplies, can become over-exploited due to the lack of individual accountability, leading to long-term negative consequences for everyone involved.

By implementing individual restraints or regulations, users are encouraged to consider the sustainability of the resource and the impacts of their consumption on the whole community. Such measures can include quotas, permits, or community agreements that limit how much each individual can extract or use, thereby ensuring that the resource can regenerate and remain available for future use. This approach fosters cooperative management and helps maintain the balance necessary for the resource to sustain both current and future populations.