Abstract
AbstractImproved natural resource governance is critical for the effective conservation of ecosystems, and the well‐being of societies that depend on them. Understanding the social fit of institutional arrangements in different contexts can help guide the design of effective environmental governance. This empirical study assessed individual‐level variation in institutional acceptance of coral reef governance among 652 respondents in 12 fishing and tourism‐oriented communities in the Wider Caribbean. High institutional acceptance was strongly associated with perceptions of community cohesiveness, underlining the potential contribution of civil society to effective governance processes. Institutional acceptance was also influenced by reef use, awareness of rules, perceived trends in reef fish populations, education, and contextual community‐level factors. Understanding what influences diverse perceptions of coral reef governance among individuals can help to assess the likelihood of support for conservation measures. This study highlights how knowledge of institutional acceptance can inform the design of more targeted interventions that enhance the social fit of conservation governance to local contexts and diverse resource users.
Highlights
Effective governance of natural resources is critical for the conservation of biodiverse ecosystems such as coral reefs, and the well-being of dependent communities (Hughes, Graham, Jackson, Mumby, & Steneck, 2010)
This study explores whether there are common factors that help explain variation in institutional acceptance among individuals in 12 coral reef-dependent communities across four Caribbean countries
Calls for improved governance of Caribbean coral reefs stem from failures to halt well-documented ecological declines, combined with future threats such as population pressure and climate change (Jackson, Donovan, Cramer, & Lam, 2014)
Summary
Effective governance of natural resources is critical for the conservation of biodiverse ecosystems such as coral reefs, and the well-being of dependent communities (Hughes, Graham, Jackson, Mumby, & Steneck, 2010). Stakeholder perceptions of governance interactions have important implications for conservation practice and governance outcomes because they can influence resource use behavior, engagement in decision-making, and support for management (Gelcich et al, 2009; Hoelting, Hard, Christie, & Pollnac, 2013). While studies have explored how preferences for management measures and their perceived benefits may be socially differentiated (McClanahan et al, 2009), few explore differences in institutional acceptance within, or between, multiple contexts This intermediate link is important, because positive perceptions of governance may enhance support for or compliance with rules even where they do not confer positive outcomes for the individual. Insights from this study can contribute to identifying appropriate and targeted interventions for improved social fit of coral reef governance
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