Understanding how resource users perceive and negotiate sustainability is essential for designing legitimate conservation governance. This study explores recreational hunters' preferences for sustainability certification in Spain using a discrete choice experiment. Data were collected from 621 hunters representing both big game and small game modalities. Results show that hunters consistently prioritise ecological criteria-such as game population conservation, habitat management, and wild genetics-yet support for certification is conditional on maintaining satisfactory hunting outcomes. Pro-sustainability attitudes coexist with achievement-oriented motivations, with conservation valued when it sustains continuity, fairness, and authenticity of the hunting experience. These findings highlight how ecological and experiential rationalities can align rather than conflict. By revealing the conditions under which certification is perceived as acceptable, the study shows how sustainability standards can function as information-based governance tools that enhance legitimacy, trust, and adaptive management in recreational hunting systems.

Transforming poultry production with smart circular sustainability: Bridging digital innovation, circular economy, and risk management for long-term resilience.

ABSTRACT This study analyzes long-term forest cover dynamics and associated socio-ecological drivers in the Okwangwo Division of Cross River National Park (CRNP), Nigeria, between 1987 and 2022, contributing to SDGs 15, 13, and 11 on sustainable ecosystems and community-centered environmental governance. Using a mixed-methods framework, we combined remote-sensing analysis with community-based data collection to assess land-cover change, its drivers, and implications for local livelihoods and conservation governance. Landsat imagery for four time periods was classified into Dense Forest, Sparse Forest, Bare Land, and Water Bodies using a CART–Random Forest model, achieving 99.5% overall accuracy (Kappa = 0.98). Structured surveys, participatory mapping, and focus group discussions were conducted with 200 respondents across four forest-adjacent communities to capture socio-economic characteristics, forest-use practices, and local ecological knowledge. Results show that Dense Forest expanded by 52.4% from 1987 to 2013 but declined slightly (1.8%) from 2013 to 2022, indicating renewed pressure after earlier conservation gains. Sparse Forest decreased by 44.1% overall, while Bare Land declined until 2013 but increased sharply thereafter (+60.4%). Water Bodies experienced the most severe decline (–82.7%). Community data reveal high dependence on farming and forest resources, low educational attainment, and strong cultural attachment to forest landscapes. Respondents demonstrated strong awareness of vegetation change, consistently attributing degradation to agricultural expansion, logging, fuelwood extraction, and persistent governance challenges. By integrating geospatial analysis with indigenous knowledge, the study highlights the importance of adaptive, community-inclusive conservation strategies aligned with local livelihoods and monitoring capacities. Findings underscore the need for strengthened protected area governance, improved resource management, and culturally grounded approaches to sustainable forest conservation in CRNP.

ABSTRACT Rhodes Boyson (1925–2012) was a well-known British headteacher and Conservative politician. In the mid 1960s, he was appointed headteacher of Highbury Grove School when it became a comprehensive school. However, in the late 1960s, he became critical of comprehensive schools. Moreover, within the Conservative Party, he was a leading advocate for the idea of parental choice and education voucher experiments throughout the 1970s. When the Conservative Party came into power in the 1980s, he also pressed for the introduction of education vouchers. Despite this, very few studies focused on Boyson’s changing attitude towards comprehensive schools and his involvement in the debates concerning parental choice and voucher experiments. Therefore, this article aims to fill this lacuna. Moreover, by examining the related debates from the 1970s, this article expects to provide a deeper understanding of the Conservative government’s failure to introduce education vouchers in Britain in the 1980s.

Rangers are widely recognised as essential actors in conserving biodiversity, cultural heritage and the rights and well-being of present and future generations. Yet global ranger discourse and policy frameworks have largely focused on state-employed personnel operating within formally designated protected areas. Across Indigenous territories, community conserved areas, other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs), privately protected areas, etc., many individuals and groups perform comparable functions but remain poorly recognised and supported. Building on the International Ranger Federation’s definition of rangers, we introduce the concept of ‘non-state rangers’: individuals or groups who fulfil ranger functions but are not primarily employed or mandated by state authorities or subnational governments. We note that non-state rangers would include Indigenous rangers working for sovereign governments such as federally-recognised tribes in the United States. Drawing on typologies and examples, the paper analyses relationships between state and non-state rangers and examines associated responsibilities, risks and opportunities. It proposes practical approaches to identifying, engaging with and supporting non-state rangers and offers recommendations for ranger associations, conservation organisations and governments to strengthen inclusive and effective conservation governance.

This study critically examines the strategic role of marine capture fisheries in advancing Bangladesh’s Blue Economy and evaluates their contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a primary focus on SDG 14 (Life Below Water). Utilizing a qualitative synthesis of secondary data—including government reports, national policy frameworks, and international development benchmarks—the research analyzes the economic, socioeconomic, and environmental dimensions of the sector. The findings reveal that marine fisheries are a cornerstone of the national economy, significantly bolstering GDP, export earnings, and food security. Despite the opportunities presented by expanded maritime jurisdictions and recent policy reforms, the sector faces systemic structural constraints, including the overexploitation of near-shore artisanal zones, technological deficiencies in deep-sea harvesting, and the persistent threat of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. A central contribution of this paper is the evaluation of how modern financial architectures can bridge the gap between policy intent and sustainable practice. It argues that the integration of Green Banking initiatives and strategic Debt Finance is essential for transitioning from traditional extractive methods to climate-resilient, science-based management. Furthermore, the study explores how optimizing Financial Leverage and expanding Financial Inclusion for small-scale fishing communities can mitigate socio-economic vulnerability and enhance compliance with conservation mandates. The analysis concludes that although existing frameworks show increasing commitment to ecosystem-based management and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), achieving SDG 14 targets requires a synergistic approach integrating ecological conservation, innovative financing, and inclusive governance to ensure Bangladesh’s marine resources support sustainable prosperity and long-term environmental resilience.

Purpose The aim of this paper is to explore the dynamics of accountability in biodiversity offsetting within the context of the Anthropocene. It seeks to examine how compensation agencies operate and how they respond to external pressures through internally generated accountability mechanisms. Design/methodology/approach Focusing on the German setting, this paper draws on 26 semi-structured interviews conducted with representatives of compensation agencies and key stakeholders within the sector, such as nature conservation authorities, policy makers, environmental NGOs and experts. Due to the novelty of the empirical setting, an inductive approach was adopted in undertaking the analysis. Findings The data revealed two interdependent regimes of accountability, one externally imposed and one internally generated. The findings demonstrate how internally generated accountability regimes can substitute for externally imposed accountability regimes where these are lacking. The findings highlight that tensions and interdependence between accountability regimes foster responsible conduct beyond mere compliance, emphasising ethical decision-making. Originality/value This research pioneers an exploration into accountability dynamics within biodiversity offsetting organisations. This paper contributes to an understanding of new environmental governance and accountability challenges which emerge in the Anthropocene. It explores the dynamics between intrinsic motivation and external pressures within a sector of growing importance, entrusted with addressing biodiversity loss.

This article examines private wildlife conservation in South Africa’s Eastern Cape as a contested form of climate governance that reproduces climate injustice. Drawing on qualitative interviews and focus groups with community members and reserve officials, the study applies a decolonial climate justice framework to analyse how enclosure operates under conditions of drought. The findings show that private reserves secure land, water and ecological resilience through capital-intensive adaptation strategies, while externalising climate risks to neighbouring, land-insecure communities. Conservation enclosures thus function as elite climate adaptation regimes rather than neutral land uses. The article argues for more equitable, rights-based approaches to conservation governance.

After World War II, the Japanese government attempted to independently prosecute its own war criminals to maintain the ‘national system’ and reduce punishment by allies, but it was opposed by the United States. Before and after the San Francisco Peace Conference, the pro-American faction led by Shigeru Yoshida formed a government. Taking advantage of the United States’s emphasis on Japan’s strategic value during the Cold War, the government formulated a policy to release Class B and C war criminals as soon as possible to consolidate the position of the Conservative Party regime and alleviate social dissatisfaction with the Allied trials. After the Sino–Japanese Treaty came into effect, successive Japanese cabinets made preparations and conducted diplomatic negotiations for the implementation of this policy. By the end of 1958, all B-class and C-class war criminals had been released early. This outcome, which was caused by the politics of the Cold War, is an important reason why Japan has not been able to solve its historical problems.

Background Legislation restricting access to gender-affirming care (GAC) for transgender and gender diverse (TGD) youth represents a form of structural anti-trans discrimination, limiting access to essential healthcare. In February 2024, Alberta’s conservative government announced plans to restrict youth’s access to GAC, which later passed in December 2024 (Bill 26). This represents the first enacted Canadian legislation restricting GAC for youth. Aims This study examined how Alberta’s legislation, at the time it was proposed, affected TGD youth and represents the first qualitative investigation of legislation restricting access to GAC in a Canadian context. Methods Using a community-engaged research approach, the research team partnered with the Skipping Stone Foundation, five TGD youth consultants, and a TGD youth advisor to co-design the study. Semi-structured interviews examined how the proposed legislation to limit trans and gender-affirming medical care has impacted TGD youth. Qualitative Descriptive methodology, with a conventional content analysis technique, was used to analyze participants’ responses. Results Thirty-one TGD youth (M = 19.23 years; SD = 2.95) participated. Participants identified as transfeminine (22.6%), transmasculine (29.0%), or non-binary/gender-fluid (48.4%), and were predominantly White (61.3%). Five themes emerged: emotional impacts, motivational impacts, political and governance concerns, social and family strain, and threats to health and well-being. Conclusion Findings show that even prior to passage, the proposed legislation produced immediate harms for TGD youth. Results highlight the detrimental consequences of anti-trans policy and underscore the need to involve TGD youth, caregivers, researchers, and health experts in policy development.

ABSTRACT This article argues that British regional policy has now largely been demolished. Following Brexit, the then Conservative government failed to renew the long-standing system of Assisted Areas that incentivised investment in less prosperous parts of the country. EU funding to the regions was initially replaced but under Labour the budget has been drastically reduced. Time-limited ‘levelling up’ funds have also been allowed to expire. The remaining programmes to promote jobs and growth in the regions fail to prioritise the weakest local economies or focus excessively on neighbourhoods.

This paper explores how traditional environmental concepts operate as a form of truth environmentality in conservation governance. Drawing on ethnographic research on tidal flat tourism in Jeungdo, South Korea, it focuses on the traditional concept of saengmyung (life) as a truth claim that shapes tidal flat conservation by rendering particular human-tidal flat relations morally intelligible and difficult to contest. This paper makes two main arguments. First, it demonstrates that saengmyung functions as a form of truth environmentality by framing tidal flats as habitats of life deserving respect, thereby legitimising conservation-oriented conduct. Second, it shows that saengmyung -based truth environmentality simultaneously stabilises and destabilises conservation governance: while it supports biodiversity conservation and recognition of local fishing practices, it also legitimises tourists’ leisure-catching activities, generating tensions within conservation regimes. This paper relates these ambivalent effects to the operation of truth environmentality within specific institutional settings, and to its mechanism that organises fields of judgement, rather than directly prescribing behaviours. By foregrounding both the governing potential and vulnerability of culturally grounded environmental truths, this paper contributes to recent work on truth and multiple environmentalities.

Conservation biogeography is increasingly important in biodiversity conservation, but its potential has not been fully integrated into the conservation spatial planning sector. These planning mandates are often carried by government agencies bound by regional administrative and legislative frameworks, resulting in planning domains poorly aligned with biogeographic boundaries. Selection of endemic taxa as input data in systematic conservation planning (SCP) should be drawn from published centres of endemism rather than a homogenized selection drawn from expansive administrative boundaries misaligned with natural evolutionary boundaries. Furthermore, given the constrained budgets in conservation governance, it seems plausible to use SCP for the identification of areas critical to the persistence of range-restricted, congruent assemblages of plants and animals. This approach could optimize the selection and protection of tightly coupled plants and animals within a framework cognizant of the impacts of human-induced threats. Conservation biogeography is the paradigm shift needed to reform the conservation spatial planning sector.

Public acceptance of nature conservation instruments is critical for their effective and fair implementation. Understanding conservation governance as a rational activity aligns with the view that citizens base their judgments of conservation instruments on a critical evaluation of the anticipated ecological, economic, and social impacts. However, although citizens generally consider various conservation instruments acceptable, their awareness and knowledge about the instruments are often limited, suggesting that the judgments may also be influenced by factors other than knowledge. We explored acceptability of voluntary biodiversity offsetting in Finland that was written into law in 2023. We hypothesized that public acceptability of the instrument hinges partially on the level of concern for biodiversity loss and of hopefulness that biodiversity loss can be halted and that level of acceptability is justified through rational arguments regarding the instrument's impacts. We tested our hypotheses empirically with an online survey of a representative sample of Finnish citizens (n=1993). Biodiversity offsetting was largely unknown to the public; yet, it was generally judged to be highly acceptable. The supportive argument was that biodiversity offsetting promotes resolution of conservation conflicts, and the opposing arguments were that it restricts land use and leads to degradation of nature values. Hopefulness amplified the positive effect of concern for biodiversity on acceptability of offsetting (β=0.072). Acceptability was positively related to the argument that biodiversity offsetting results in resolution of conservation conflicts (β=0.424) and negatively related to the claims that it results in restriction of land use (β=-0.213) and destruction of nature values (β=-0.195). Our results broaden theoretical understanding of the public acceptance of conservation policies.

Land-use policies founded on the expertise and interests of key stakeholders are likely the most implementable and politically long-lasting, assuming stakeholders share a broader, similar perception of the future. We investigated whether there is a difference in how eleven indicator species of conservation concern may be affected given policy and forestry scenarios of four key forest stakeholders for a 100000ha Swedish landscape over the coming 100 years. We used colonization-extinction models and species distribution models. Most species had stable or increasing metapopulation sizes or occurrence probabilities after 100 years under all except the most production-oriented scenario by private landowners. For six wood-decaying fungi, forests protected or managed with continuous cover forestry (CCF) drove the positive developments. By contrast, these species essentially disappeared from stands with even-aged clearcutting forestry. Regarding the 14.5% strict protection applied by the state-owned forest company increased the area occupied by these species. Protecting an even larger area and application of CCF in the scenarios of the (non-)governmental conservation organizations increased fungal metapopulation sizes even more. Four bird species showed stable or positive developments in all scenarios. The same held true for the epiphytic lichen Lobaria pulmonaria, because the management applied projected increasing host tree numbers and densities. Thus, protecting up to 20% of the productive forest, applying more alternative management regimes and less even-aged clearcutting rotation forestry has the potential to greatly increase the (meta)population size and improve the red-list status of all the focal species, and presumably also of other species of conservation concern.

Human-elephant conflict (HEC) represents one of the most persistent socio-ecological challenges in tropical landscapes, where expanding agriculture and fragmented habitats intensify encounters between wildlife and people. This study integrates Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), and Design-Based Research (DBR) to co-design early warning systems (EWS) for conflict mitigation in Odisha, India. Using digitized PRA tools, communities mapped seasonal and spatial patterns of elephant movement, crop damage, and risk hotspots, combining local knowledge with geospatial analysis. Iterative feedback and community validation sessions ensured contextual accuracy and stakeholder ownership. The resulting framework identifies priority locations and temporal windows for deploying AI-enabled camera-based EWS, linking ecological data with social acceptability. Findings highlight how participatory technology design can strengthen adaptive conservation governance by embedding community knowledge into decision-making innovation. The approach has broad implications for locally led, socially grounded conservation strategies across diverse human-wildlife conflict landscapes.

Introduction Protected areas are key tools for conserving biodiversity, but their success depends on how they are governed. In Romania, research on protected area governance has primarily focused on institutional changes, EU accession, or the implementation of Natura 2000, while less attention has been given to how the legal framework itself has changed over time. Methods In this study, we analyzed the development of protected area governance in Romania by examining legal norms adopted from 1990 to 2024. We reviewed legislation issued by national authorities and compared developments before and after Romania’s accession to the EU. Our analysis documented the content of legal norms enacted after 1990, assessed their alignment with EU and international standards, and highlighted key differences between the pre- and post-accession periods. Results We found that before EU membership, the focus was mainly on establishing foundational legal definitions, management rules, and administrative mechanisms. After accession, the focus shifted toward implementing and updating these rules in alignment with EU nature conservation policies, especially through the Natura 2000 network. Conclusion Overall, our results show how successive legal norms have influenced protected area governance in Romania and provide insights into the impact of EU integration on environmental governance in post-communist countries.

Effective marine conservation increasingly depends on public engagement, particularly in biodiversity-rich regions facing acute socio-environmental pressures. In Brazil, a global marine biodiversity hotspot, important informal science education events such as Semanas de Biologia, Fiocruz pra Você , and the Semana Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia serve as important interfaces between marine science and society. This perspective paper reflects on the role of these initiatives in enhancing scientific literacy and public engagement for marine conservation, drawing on qualitative observations from outreach activities conducted between 2023 and 2025 and situating them within the broader literature on informal science education and science communication. Rather than presenting causal impact assessments, the paper examines how multisensory and participatory strategies, including biological specimens, tactile materials, interactive games, and low-cost immersive technologies, can foster accessible and meaningful learning environments for diverse audiences. Finally, it outlines future directions for strengthening informal science education as a strategic component of marine conservation, emphasizing multimodality, reflexive evaluation practices, community co-production, and equitable geographic access. By framing informal outreach as a key interface between science, society, and policy, this perspective contributes to discussions on how public engagement can support conservation governance in Brazil and other global marine biodiversity hotspots.

Wildlife poaching has increasingly become part of transnational organized crime networks that threaten biodiversity conservation and weaken environmental governance in many regions, including Aceh, Indonesia. This study aims to analyze wildlife poaching in Aceh from an environmental law perspective, with particular attention to the legal frameworks, enforcement mechanisms, and institutional challenges in addressing transnational wildlife crime. The research seeks to identify how existing legal instruments regulate wildlife protection and assess the extent to which these regulations can address organized criminal networks involved in illegal wildlife trade. This study employs a qualitative juridical approach using normative and empirical legal analysis. The research examines national environmental and wildlife protection laws, international legal instruments, and relevant enforcement practices related to wildlife crime. Data were collected through document analysis of legislation, policy reports, and scholarly literature, complemented by secondary data on wildlife crime cases in Aceh. The analytical framework integrates environmental law, transnational organized crime studies, and green criminology to understand the legal and institutional dynamics surrounding wildlife poaching. The findings reveal that wildlife poaching in Aceh is not merely a local environmental offense but is closely connected to broader transnational trafficking networks that exploit regulatory gaps, limited enforcement capacity, and coordination challenges among institutions. Although Indonesia has established several legal instruments to protect wildlife and combat environmental crimes, weaknesses remain in implementation, cross-border cooperation, and the integration of environmental law with criminal justice mechanisms. Strengthening institutional coordination, improving investigative capacity, and aligning domestic regulations with international frameworks are essential to addressing the complexity of wildlife crime networks. This study contributes to the growing discourse on environmental law and transnational environmental crime by providing a legal analysis of wildlife poaching within the context of organized criminal networks.

Wildlife crime poses a severe threat to biodiversity conservation, ecological integrity, and sustainable development, particularly in biodiverse developing countries. In Uganda, protected areas such as Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP) continue to experience persistent wildlife crimes, including poaching, illegal fishing, habitat encroachment, and wildlife trafficking, despite the presence of robust legal and institutional frameworks. Prosecution of wildlife offenders is widely recognised as a central deterrence mechanism and a key pillar of environmental justice and conservation governance. Yet the persistence of these crimes raises critical concerns about the effectiveness of existing prosecution processes. This study assessed the effectiveness of wildlife crime prosecution in QENP, with particular attention to legal, institutional, and operational determinants of enforcement outcomes. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, combining structured questionnaires administered to wildlife officers, community members, and law enforcement personnel with key informant interviews involving prosecutors, magistrates, park wardens, and conservation officials. These data were complemented by a systematic review of wildlife legislation, prosecution records, and policy documents. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were examined thematically. The findings indicate that prosecution effectiveness is undermined by weak investigations, poor evidence management, limited technical and financial capacity, corruption, and judicial delays, resulting in low conviction rates and weak deterrence. Nonetheless, opportunities exist through strengthened legal frameworks, inter-agency coordination, community-based intelligence, judicial reforms, and support from conservation partners. The study underscores the need to enhance investigative capacity, professionalise prosecutorial practices, and institutionalise coordinated enforcement mechanisms to improve wildlife crime prosecution and conservation outcomes in QENP