Networked governance and the management of ecosystem services: The case of urban environmental stewardship in New York City

Abstract

Urban environmental stewardship groups have become an essential component of the governance structure that regulates ecosystem services in cities. New York City is one example where these groups have grown rapidly in number, size, and visibility since the 1970s. In this article, we combine quantitative survey data with qualitative interview data to examine the structure and development of the governance network that has grown around the management of urban ecosystem services in New York City. We find that the network is organized according to ecological function and geography. We find as well, that certain historical conditions led to the development of a hybrid institutional form with regard to management of ecosystem services in the city. We discuss the implications of this hybrid networked governance structure in New York City and what it might mean for further cross-disciplinary research around ecosystem service governance.