Co-management Regimes Research Articles

Legal pluralism, ideology, and institutional change: the evolution of institutions for coastal resource governance in Ghana

Abstract Co-management regimes are institutional innovations that hold the promise of achieving sustainable common-pool resource governance. However, the transition to such institutional regimes in coastal resource systems has faced challenges in many countries. This article examines the processes and outcomes of such institutional changes in coastal fisheries in Ghana, where the transition to co-management was unsuccessful. Combining theoretical perspectives from legal pluralism in legal anthropology and ideational theories of institutional change within institutional economics, the paper uses process tracing to examine the role of ideology and historical institutional dynamics of the resource context in the institutionalization and failure of co-management arrangements for governing coastal fisheries. The study finds that ideological conflicts and historical legacies of legal pluralism hindered the practice and outcomes of coastal fisheries co-management in Ghana. The article argues for particular attention to the historical institutional dimensions and underlying worldviews of the resource context in institutional interventions for sustainability in coastal resource systems.

Exploring the relationship between local participation and perceived Co-management performance: Evidence from China’s Giant Panda National Park

Understanding local perceptions is essential to ensure the good functioning of co-management in protected areas (PAs). However, more research is required quantitatively to assess the extent locals are empowered. This paper seeks to investigate the effects of varied participation types and levels on perceived performance in a centralized co-management regime in Giant Panda National Park, China. Using 353 survey questionnaires, we identified six co-management subtypes that were classified into four empowerment levels: instruction, consultation, agreement, and cooperation. Notably, our analysis suggests that involvement at the cooperation level was not clearly linked with more favorable local perceptions of conservation. In contrast, local residents engaged in the instruction level of co-management (support, training, and employment subtypes) were more inclined to develop positive perceptions across the ecological, social, and livelihood dimensions. This study suggests the conclusion that merely empowering locals might not facilitate favorable perceptions of conservation. Instruction co-management intended to enhance social well-being if it is tailored to the needs of local residents.

Disparities in the impacts of co-management on fishers’ livelihoods

AbstractNatural resources are widely managed through collaborative governance arrangements (e.g., co-management) which often result in the uneven distribution of costs and benefits among fishers. Discrepancies in how a fisher is impacted by co-management relative to other fishers or others in the community (i.e., disparity) can negatively affect fishers’ wellbeing, their support for management, and subsequently, ecological outcomes. Yet, disparities in the distribution of social impacts from co-management have rarely been assessed. We address this gap by examining disparities (losses and gains) in perceived livelihood impacts from co-management. Losses (or gains) occur when a fisher experiences a more negative (or positive) impact on their livelihood relative to other fishers or others in the community. We used data from interviews with 1191 fishers associated with 48 coral reef co-management arrangements across Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea to examine how socioeconomic and institutional characteristics were associated with losses and gains from co-management. Overall, we found that more fishers perceived equality than disparities in the distribution of co-management impacts. Of those that perceived disparities, more fishers perceived losses than gains. We also found that disparities could be predicted by a range of socioeconomic characteristics, including distance to markets and wealth, and institutional characteristics of the co-management regime, such as gear, access, and area restrictions. This study provides insights on potential entry points that could be used by managers and policy-makers to promote equitable co-management of small-scale fisheries, such as the reduction of losses by increasing participation in decision-making processes, fostering conflict resolution mechanisms, prioritizing gear restrictions over area restrictions, and reducing poverty.

Local perceptions of mangrove protection and livelihood improvement in Co-management: Lessons learnt and recommendations

Co-management has been widely used for sustainably managing forest resources, particularly in developing countries. Co-management becomes more effective when voices from related stakeholders are adequately heard. Until now, there has been limited knowledge with respect to local perceptions of their outcomes in protecting mangrove forests under co-management programs. We used the example of Kien Giang, Vietnam to address the above question because Kien Giang represents an appropriate case study in this regard. This study was undertaken using multi-year (2005 and 2022) shoreline change analysis together with semi-structured interviews with local communities and the assigned government agency with respect to mangrove protection and shoreline change. The results show that economic circumstances of local communities are an underlying cause of poor protection of allocated mangrove forests while insufficient knowledge of mariculture significantly contributed to the ineffective use of the forests for livelihood improvement. Meanwhile, limited staffing, capacity, and resources have been major constraints on effective protection of allocated mangrove forests and shoreline protection by the government agency. The findings help explain why the Kien Giang shoreline has been continuously changing without proper control measures. Therefore, documentation of local perceptions of the outcomes of their involvement should be emphasized as an integral part in co-management regime to improve the performance of co-management of natural resources.

The role of protected areas co-management in enhancing resistance and resilience of deciduous forest ecosystem to extreme climatic events in Bangladesh

Due to ongoing and projected climate change as well as increasing anthropogenic disturbances, the tropical deciduous forest has been experiencing a decline in its biomass and productivity. To mitigate this adverse effect, many tropical countries have adopted forest co-management engaging local communities. However, the effects of co-management on the resistance and resilience of forest ecosystems to extreme climatic events have rarely been tested. The present study investigates the effects of co-management on resistance and resilience to extreme climatic events in two major tropical deciduous forest protected areas of Bangladesh, namely Madhupur National Park (MNP) and Bhawal National Park (BNP), through remotely sensed satellite data. We used the Google Earth Engine platform to access the Landsat images from 1990 to 2020 for a comprehensive assessment of the forest cover condition under two major management regimes (i.e., traditional and co-management). We find that co-management slows down the rate of forest destruction, where the rate of forest destruction was 108 ha year−1 in MNP and 121 ha year−1 in BNP during the year 1990–2008 under traditional forest management system. Under the co-management regime, forest cover increased by 19 ha year−1 and 41 ha year−1 from 2009 to 2020 respectively in MNP and BNP. Our study finds a highly significant correlation between rainfall (p < 0.001) and forest health, although co-management had poor impacts on forest resistance and resilience in case of extreme climatic events, such as drought and heavy rainfall. We find, no significant impacts of co-management on resistance and resilience to drought in MNP, and on resistance and resilience to heavy rainfall in MNP and BNP. In BNP, the impacts of co-management on resistance (p < 0.05) and resilience (p < 0.01) of forest to drought were highly significant. Forest co-management although have the potentials to reduce the deforestation rate by mitigating anthropogenic disturbances, its capacity to tackle the adverse impact of climate change was limited in our study. An adaptive co-management model, therefore, is crucial for mainstreaming the adverse effect of climate change on the tropical deciduous forest to harness the maximum potential of community participation in forest resources management.

Challenges to the lake fisheries, and factors affecting the effectiveness of a co-management regime in African Great Lakes: A case study of Lake Victoria, Kenya

AbstractThere is a common agreement that establishment of co-management could be of benefit to fisher community and other stakeholders across the African Great Lakes. This could aid in promoting community livelihoods and sustainability of the fishery and lakes ecosystem. However, the effectiveness of established co-management regimes remains unknown. This study evaluated the effectiveness of established co-management units, specifically Beach Management Units, along Lake Victoria, Kenya. Data was collected through site observations, and questionnaire led interviews involving the key informants and Beach Management Units’ members. The study depicted presence of illegal gears (5.7%), pollution (10.2%), insecurity (3.4%) and targeting of undersized fish (1.1%) among others. The role of the management units in lessening aforesaid challenges was reported overall to be below 36%. Features donating to overall performance, enforcement, conflict resolution, welfare and awareness creation, were rated at 17.6%, 33.8%, 35.5% and 13.2% correspondingly. The low rating of such measurable attributes advocates lack of effectiveness of co-management in Lake Victoria, Kenya. Albeit key registers and records were known to most of the members, there were no signs of progressive growth in the management units. This was attributed mainly to lack of continuous awareness creation amid the changing lake environmental conditions and dynamics in the specific species fishery. There is need to sustain the achievements so far attained in promoting co-management and ecosystem sustainability, as enforcement of laws and regulations can be a challenging undertaking without government support. Governments should ensure financial and material provision in expanding capacity of co-management units in promoting community livelihoods and fishery sustainability.

Examining Social Equity in the Co-Management of Terrestrial Protected Areas: Perceived Fairness of Local Communities in Giant Panda National Park, China

Social equity is imperative both morally and instrumentally in the governance of protected areas, as neglecting this consideration can result in feelings of injustice and thus jeopardize conservation objectives. Despite the progressive attention paid to conservation equity, few have linked it with co-management arrangements, especially in the context of terrestrial protected areas. This study assesses the fairness perceptions in China’s Giant Panda National Park from recognitional, procedural, and distributional dimensions, to further disclose their correlations with individuals’ characteristics and participation in co-management activities. The regression analysis shows that all co-management types (instruction, consultation, agreement, and cooperation) are significantly linked with certain directions of perceived social equity. One novel finding here is that alternative types of co-management activities are influencing social equity in different ways. In addition, our research discloses the effects of education across all equity categories, and location is merely significantly related to recognitional equity. These findings suggest more inclusive and empowered co-management endeavors to strive for more equitably managed protected areas. Crucial steps to advance this include extending participative channels, co-producing better compensation plans, strengthening locals’ conservation capabilities, etc. Herein, this study appeals to a greater focus on social equity issues in co-management regimes, and tailored actions should be taken to tackle specific local problems.

Assessing the Welfare Impacts of Forest Ecosystem Service Management Policies and Their Distributional Rules

Community based management (CBM) is widely advocated as an effective method for governing and managing ecosystem services (ES). However, the distributional rules and maximum harvesting levels are likely to affect both the effectiveness of CBMs in maintaining ES and the fairness and equity of access to these ES. This article proposes a methodological approach for investigating normative trade-offs involved in CBM of forests, where forest conservation objectives need to be traded off against livelihoods objectives. The study uses remote sensing methods to quantify forest ES supply in Namizimu Forest Reserve in Malawi, and links this to demand for ES within the villages near the reserve. It then investigates how a plausible set of CBM rules can be developed to cap consumption of forest products to sustainable amount and quantifies, by using monetary valuation techniques, how these set of rules may affect the total well-being of local population. Our results demonstrate that, due to the spatial mismatches between demand and supply, the distribution of provisioning ES to the population across the harvesting area is unequal in biophysical terms. The current available stock of forest products is sufficient to cover the current demand, however, it is higher than the mean annual increment indicating that this level of consumption is ecologically unsustainable and will lead to forest degradation as shown under the business-as-usual scenario. We then examined the impact of governance and how CBM rules to allocate forest ES to different social groups (poor and rich) under a co-management regime will affect total societal welfare. We found that the distributional scenario that maximises total societal welfare expressed in monetary terms across the whole harvesting area is the scenario that distributes 40% of biomass to the rich group while the remaining 60% is allocated to the poor group. However, this scenario maximises Willingness to Pay (WTP) at total level but does not maximise WTP in each sub-area of forest but just for those that have a high availability for biomass. This indicates that the distributional rules that maximise total welfare at aggregate level may not maximise welfare at local level where constraints from biomass availability require to restrict further the distribution of forest products. When biomass availability is low, total societal welfare is maximised with distributional rules that distribute more trees to richer. Yet, a policymaker may choose a distributional rule that distribute more trees to the poor on normative grounds and forego the objective of maximising total welfare. In such cases the WTP analysis outlined in this paper can support the policymaker in choosing the distributional rule that minimise trade-offs between efficiency, i.e., maximising total welfare, and livelihoods objectives.

A Review of Traditional Environmental Knowledge: An Interdisciplinary Canadian Perspective

Over the past fifteen years there has been increasing interest in the nature and application of Traditional Environmental Knowledge (TEK) in Canada. This lias coincided with the settlement of land claims, the emergence of comanagement regimes, and the ascendancy of First Nation power and influence in formal decision making processes. Discourses on actual and potential applications of TEK in land and resource management are the focus of this paper. TEK is the outcome of complex interactions between a culture and the natural environment. Although there are different cosmologies and adaptations, common themes emerge in the way knowledge is acquired and communicated. There is also a great deal of value in its application. However, a number of issues remain to be resolved such as the compatibility between Western scientific knowledge and TEK, and the acquisition and application of TEK by "outsiders." As knowledge is taken from its immediate context it is "abstracted" to conform with the needs of the user and to the scale at which it is being applied. Two subsequent issues emerge. First, TEK is transformed as it is removed from its original context, and second, it may be co-opted in the name of resource and land management decisions that do not necessarily serve First Nations’ interests.

Polycentricity and adaptive governance of transboundary marine socio-ecological systems

Transboundary marine socio-ecological systems (SESs) are complex and dynamic systems. Enhancing the sustainability of such systems requires adaptive governance supported by polycentric structures. However, adaptive governance of marine SESs across national boundaries can be challenging, as significant differences in institutional arrangements for resource management and adaptive governance capabilities may exist. The limitations of various institutional arrangements and the challenges of adaptive governance across borders are still poorly understood. We offer a comparative study of two marine co-management systems, in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania, which are bound by different legislative environments to elucidate how institutions might limit or enable adaptive governance at the local and transboundary scale. The legislative environment is characterized based on a review of the literature. The structural properties of the co-management systems are examined for evidence of polycentricity using social network analysis. Across the different co-management contexts, we discover similar and distinct institutional opportunities and challenges for adaptive governance. Both co-management regimes foster the participation of diverse actors and multiple interactions. However, both show strong sectoral tendencies and high centrality of government, which can hinder adaptive governance. There are more autonomous decision units in Tanzania's co-management network, hence a more robust social context for polycentricism compared to Kenya. A shift towards enhanced polycentricity to foster adaptive governance of the Kenya-Tanzania transboundary marine SES will require policy frameworks that enhance cross-sectoral integration and create opportunities for multi-stakeholder bridging.

Impact of co-management on tree diversity and carbon sequestration in protected areas: Experiences from Bangladesh

Forest Protected Area (PA) co-management, which integrates local communities in the forest management structures, was started in Bangladesh in 2004 to effectively manage and conserve forest resources. This study has investigated if the initiative has met its objectives. Using NDVI maps, we applied a stratified random sampling framework to identify sample plots. Phytosociological and carbon-sequestration data were collected from two co-managed PAs (Lawachara National Park and Teknaf Wildlife Sanctuary) and adjacent reserve forests that are not under co-management regime. Results reveal that phytosociological attributes for both mature trees and naturally regenerated seedlings showed better results in co-managed sites than in non-co-managed sites. Plot mean species, genus, and family were 2.69, 2.64, 2.49, respectively, in the non-co-managed sites as opposed to 1.64, 1.60, and 1.46 in the co-managed plots. Simpson's Diversity Index was 0.11 and 0.15 in co-managed PAs and control sites, respectively. Given the standard normal distribution, the range of biomass carbon sequestration was (−300, 500) t/ha in the co-managed PAs as opposed to (−200, 400) t/ha in the control sites. Overall, sites without co-management showed better biodiversity status than the sites having co-management practices.

Biological perspectives on complexities of fisheries co-management: A case study of Newfoundland and Labrador snow crab

A thrust toward fisheries co-management systems occurred globally throughout the 1990s. This was partially influenced by the collapse of groundfish stocks including the iconic northern cod and other fisheries resources in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). The management system for NL snow crab burgeoned during this period, largely in the absence of biological information for the resource. There is a high volume of theoretical literature advocating for the benefits of fisheries co-management, but little documented perspectives from fisheries scientists actively engaged in such management systems, nor literature detailing how co-management regimes could affect scientific research or assessment programs. In this paper, in context of a large fishery, we provide specific examples of how co-management processes can influence scientific research and monitoring programs and the biological functioning of important marine resources. We undertake critical evaluation on topics including spatial scales of management, fishery timing, fishery closures, collaborative research, and harvester perceptions of stock size. We conclude there are both scientific advantages and disadvantages to operating within co-management systems, but that the NL snow crab management system has evolved to promote processes problematic to provision of the best possible science advice. We conclude that adaptive co-management measures are required to address several current challenges in order to maximize scientific value within this system. In general, the paper demonstrates how flexibility is needed by all partners involved in resource co-management systems to adapt to fundamental scientific principles inherent in changing methodologies and the generation of knowledge.

Conservation Strategies Through the Lens of Small-Scale Fishers in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador: Perceptions Underlying Local Resistance to Marine Planning

Spatial management tools are increasingly used in marine protected areas (MPAs). In the Galapagos Archipelago two zoning plans have been designed to advance resource management and protection: one in 2000, implemented through participatory processes under a co-management regime; the other in 2016, designed within a new regulatory framework and with strong input from international conservation advocates. The new zoning plan has been actively resisted by small-scale fishers. We analyze qualitative data from 149 questionnaire surveys and 16 key informant interviews to assess fishers’ perceptions of the re-zoning process. The perceptions that underpin fishers’ resistance to the new zoning plan converge in five principal themes that raise questions about the legitimacy, fairness, transparency, and viability of this management tool. This study provides further evidence of the strategic importance of incorporating human dimensions in MPA management and, more particularly, of understanding social concerns that may critically impede the progress of marine resource conservation.

Recent advances in management strategy evaluation: introduction to the special issue “Under pressure: addressing fisheries challenges with Management Strategy Evaluation”

Management strategy evaluation (MSE) is an increasingly popular tool for developing, testing, and implementing fisheries management regimes, oftentimes utilizing participatory modeling. This special issue, “Under pressure: addressing fisheries challenges with Management Strategy Evaluation”, includes eleven articles highlighting cutting edge MSE approaches and perspectives on improving stakeholder engagement. The special issue is the culmination of a two-session MSE symposium held during the 147th American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting in Tampa, Florida. We summarize the themes from the symposium and special issue articles. Contributions demonstrated that important strides have been made in quantifying and exploring risk (by including more sophisticated multispecies and socioeconomic components), developing and testing data-limited harvest control rules, acknowledging and diagnosing limitations of MSE (e.g., identifying exceptional circumstances), and dealing with issues of stakeholder engagement and dimensionality (e.g., determining appropriate representation, communication techniques, and participation levels). Although MSE is a not a panacea for marine policy and resource utilization issues, it is a useful tool for implementing co-management regimes that should become increasingly robust as the multidisciplinary nature of MSE processes continues to expand.

Claims-Based Co-management in Norway's Arctic? Examining Sami Land Governance as a Case of Treaty Federalism

AbstractAround the world, Indigenous peoples seek increased control of traditional lands. In northern Canada, such control may be afforded by claims-based co-management regimes. Such regimes are a common, and sometimes celebrated, component of treaty federalism. In Norway, Europe's only Indigenous people, the Sami, now participate in a land-management regime: the Finnmark Estate (FeFo). We explore whether FeFo is, in effect, claims-based co-management and whether Sami thus enjoy the sort of guaranteed shared rule envisioned in treaty federalism. We compare FeFo to Canadian co-management in three dimensions: novelty, independence and Indigenous influence. We conclude FeFo is indeed claims-based co-management. But FeFo falls short of the treaty-federal ideal, for reasons possibly including bureaucratic capture, fragile legitimacy, conflicting interpretations of the Sami interest and conflicting views on the merits of shared rule.

Wildlife Management in Nunavik: Structures, Operations, and Perceptions Following the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement

Des lignes directrices et des pratiques exemplaires visant à faire participer les peuples autochtones des régions arctiques à la recherche biophysique sont publiées depuis les années 1990. Malgré ces lignes directrices, les scientifiques généraux ont toujours de la difficulté à créer des relations de travail efficaces avec les peuples autochtones et à les faire participer à leurs recherches. Nous avons fait face à cet enjeu quand nous avons visité trois collectivités de la côte ouest de l’Alaska pour étudier les événements climatiques percutants et la formation de « bermes de bouillie de glace » susceptibles de protéger les localités des ondes de tempête. Quand nous avons essayé de nouer des liens avec les résidents des diverses localités, nous avons constaté que les lignes directrices actuelles sont souvent utiles pour nous indiquer quoi faire (par exemple, elles mettent l’accent sur l’importance des communications face à face), mais les chercheurs doivent aussi penser à comment le faire (les compétences) et à comment se présenter (attributs personnels). Pour prouver aux Autochtones qu’ils valorisent et respectent leur culture, les chercheurs pourraient apprendre à employer du vocabulaire qui est compréhensible et qui tient compte d’une démarche de collaboration au lieu d’une démarche hiérarchique du sommet à la base. Il faudrait que nous soyons prêts à adapter nos emplois du temps et à aider la collectivité que nous visitons au lieu de nous concentrer seulement sur nos propres besoins. Il faudrait aussi considérer les avantages pour la collectivité et nous assurer que les résidents comprennent la recherche que nous faisons et soient satisfaits. Parmi les attributs nécessaires pour ces travaux de recherche, notons la curiosité, l’honnêteté, la sensibilisation aux besoins d’autrui, l’empathie, la flexibilité et l’ouverture d’esprit. Même si les compétences et les attributs dont il est question ici aident à combler l’écart entre les cultures, nous tenons à souligner qu’aucune formule particulière ne garantit le succès.

국가 자연자원 관리 하의 리커머닝 －대만의 원주민-국가 야생생물 공동관리체제의 최신 동향－

국가 자연자원 관리 하의 리커머닝 －대만의 원주민-국가 야생생물 공동관리체제의 최신 동향－

Inuit Attitudes towards Co-Managing Wildlife in Three Communities in the Kivalliq Region of Nunavut, Canada

We explored Inuit attitudes towards co-managing wildlife in the Kivalliq Region of Nunavut, Canada, working in partnership with the hunters and trappers’ organizations of Igluligaarjuk (Chesterfield Inlet), Tikirarjuaq (Whale Cove), and Qamani’tuaq (Baker Lake). In mixed-methods interviews, study participants in the two coastal communities described dissatisfaction with polar bear (Ursus maritimus) management outcomes, in contrast to a general satisfaction with (or indifference to) the management of other species. Interviewees expressed concern about grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) and, more prominently, caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) populations in Qamani’tuaq, the inland community. Researchers have predicted that conflicts specific to polar bear management could lead to regulations being ignored or even defied and endanger the entire system of wildlife co-management. Our results indicate that dissatisfaction over decisions is specific to polar bear management outcomes and does not necessarily apply to the broader system of wildlife co-management. The results suggest that the Nunavut wildlife co-management system is quite functional: polar bear issues aside, Inuit in Qamani’tuaq, Tikirarjuaq, and Igluligaarjuk are largely content with the current functioning of the wildlife co-management regime.

The dynamics of institutional innovation: Crafting co-management in small-scale fisheries through action research

This paper investigates the dynamics of institutional development and co-management performance in small-scale fisheries. The study covers different contexts and spatial and temporal scales, for nine case studies in the South Pacific. In these cases, new co-management institutions were intentionally set up from 2008 to 2016 through fishery policy intervention to address over-exploitation problems of sea cucumber resources. This was carried out in a process of adaptive experimentation, based on a collaborative and problem-solving approach to governance, and a context-based vision of sustainability issues. In order to quantitatively and empirically assess change in governance within and between cases, a multidimensional analytical framework of governance performance is developed. A set of governance performance criteria is defined and the criteria are scored using data from an institutional diagnosis of the cases, throughout the research period. Ten out of eleven criteria were positively impacted by the co-management interventions. Three institutional development trajectories can be identified for the fishery co-management building process, involving a range of gradual and abrupt changes. Consolidation of the institutional changes achieved by the interventions is required to successfully develop the resilience of the fishing systems to multiple stresses. This empirical study provides a methodology for systematically assessing institutional dynamics in fisheries, and in particular the crafting and sustaining of co-management regimes in small-scale fisheries. The approach could potentially be applied to other complex social-ecological systems.

Assembling a Marine Extractive Reserve: The Case of the Cassurubá RESEX in Brazil

Conservation territories have expanded globally in recent decades with a more recent surge to protect coastal-marine spaces through comanagement regimes. In Brazil, the extractive reserve, known as RESEX, is a community-based, sustainable use conservation unit that has been increasingly established in coastal-marine environments. Using an assemblage approach, we demonstrate how RESEX establishment is a practice of assemblage and a means of reconfiguring territory, livelihoods, natural resources, identities, and labor. Specifically, the Cassurubá RESEX, in coastal Bahia state, was established as part of a territorial battle between politicians and environmentalists that enrolled resource users with the promise of secured access to natural resources, increased political influence, and benefits from economic incentives. RESEX authorities and other privileged actors dominate governance through discourses and practices that aim to uphold the RESEX model and constitute and reconstitute identities and resource user livelihoods. Attempts to coerce resource users to assert their rights are met with resistance, demonstrating the difficulty in governing this complex conservation territory