Implementation Of Co-management Research Articles

Residents’ perceptions of tourism development in the context of a new governance framework for Portuguese protected areas: The case of a small peripheral natural park

Historically, Portuguese protected areas (PAs) have been operating under top-down governance, often neglecting local communities. In 2019, the Portuguese government established a new governance model for PAs, based on co-management. The new co-management approach emphasises collaborative and participatory governance and positions sustainable tourism as a catalyst for territorial revitalisation and local development. However, local communities' attitudes and perceptions regarding tourism in these areas remain largely uncharted. This study focuses on the Alvão Natural Park (PNAL), a small rural and mountainous Portuguese PA, which is currently in the early stages of co-management implementation. Our goal was to investigate local residents' perceptions of tourism's impacts and identify potential divergence among resident groups and their level of support for tourism development. These insights are crucial because the active engagement of local communities is a key element for sustainable tourism development and the successful implementation of co-management. The study employed a self-administered survey, garnering responses from 250 PNAL residents representing over half of the park's population. Factor analysis identified four primary perceptual dimensions and cluster analysis classified residents into three distinct groups based on their tourism perceptions. While most PNAL residents express support for tourism development, there is a resounding call for new policies to revert the legacy of top-down governance. This research provides essential insights for shaping effective tourism policies, planning and development strategies, and ensuring the active involvement of local communities in co-management and sustainable development efforts within the PNAL. Moreover, this study demonstrates the applicability of this research approach in the context of evolving governance models with the potential for adaptation to other PAs across Portugal and other countries undergoing similar governance transitions.

Motivation-based visitor segmentation in the context of a new governance model for a protected area

ABSTRACT Understanding visitor motivations is crucial for developing sustainable tourism strategies in protected areas (PAs). However, the literature often overlooks the role of visitor motivation research in enhancing place-based collaborative governance within PAs. This study focuses on the Alvão Natural Park (PNAL), a mountainous Portuguese PA currently implementing a new co-management model. This represents a significant change, considering that the governance of the PA has shifted from a single state entity to a collaborative model that prioritises tourism as a key factor in local development. This study seeks to address the research gap regarding motivation-based segmentation studies in mountainous natural parks, while exploring the innovative aspects of conducting such a study within the framework of a new governance model. By surveying 351 PNAL visitors, factor analysis revealed four motivational dimensions with emphasis on connection with nature and relaxation. However, cluster analysis identified only one segment primarily motivated by connecting with nature, while the largest segment is motivated by convenience and social environment interactions. The results suggest the importance of involving the local community in governance and decision-making processes, and the need to prioritise ecotourism as a key focal point in PNAL's tourism policies, strategic planning, and development. Our findings contribute to theoretical knowledge and inform policy-making, providing valuable guidance for the successful implementation of co-management in PNAL and potentially other similar PAs.

Integrating local knowledge for inclusive blue economy: opportunity and challenge of institutional bricolage

ABSTRACT Employing the social aspect into the blue economy is crucial to ensure equity for communities whose livelihoods are intertwined with the ocean. One way to achieve this is by integrating local knowledge into management practices. Unfortunately, information regarding the mechanisms that influence the effectiveness of this integration remains underexplored, particularly in terms of empirical field-based evidence.. This research adopts a qualitative approach that emphasizes the exploration of case studies on the integration of local knowledge through institutional bricolage. Papadak/Hoholok is one example of this practice. We argue that institutional bricolage practices emerging from external parties are determined by the functioning of change enablers and the appropriate implementation of co-management. The research findings indicate that local knowledge struggles to function effectively due to a lack of resources and commitment from the involved parties. External parties seem more interested in the initiation process rather than collaborating over the long term to ensure the successful integration of local knowledge into management practices. Hence, the long-term commitment of involved parties should be a focal point for similar practices in the upcoming times.

Impact of Critical Care Registered Dietitian on Clinical Outcomes of Neurocritically Ill Patients

Background: To investigate the impact of early nutrition intervention and a critical care registered dietitian on the outcomes of neurocritically ill patients.Methods: Among neurosurgical patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) in a tertiary hospital from January 2015 to December 2019, A critical care registered dietitian co-management was initiated on May 1, 2017. The primary endpoint was ICU mortality. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to control selection bias and confounding factors.Results: In this study, 1,386 patients were included. In the overall study population, nutrition was provided to 719 (51.9%) patients under the supervision of a registered dietitian. Early nutrition was performed for 356 (25.7%) patients. In the overall study population and the PSM adjusted population, rates of early parenteral nutrition (EPN) were higher in the groups managed by a registered dietitian than in the group without a registered dietitian (both p <0.001). In the overall and PSM adjusted population, the rates of ICU mortality, 28-day mortality, and in-hospital mortality were not significant different between two groups (all p > 0.05), but the group managed by a registered dietitian had a shorter hospital stay than the group without a registered dietitian (both p <0.02). In the multivariable analysis of the overall population and PSM adjusted population, EPN showed an association with ICU mortality. Conclusions: The rate of EPN utilization increased after the implementation of co-management with a critical care registered dietitian, and the use of EPN was associated with lower ICU mortality in neurocritically ill patients.

Co-Management pengelolaan ekosistem mangrove di Desa Langge Kecamatan Anggrek Kabupaten Gorontalo Utara

Mangroves are one of the important ecosystems that are currently being damaged. This research aimed to 1) determine the existing condition of Langge Village's mangroves and their utilization, 2) analyze stakeholders, the influence and mapping of co-management, and 3) analyze the form of co-management, roles, and responsibilities of stakeholders towards mangrove management in Langge Village. This research was conducted in August-November 2021. Mangrove vegetation data was collected using the line transect method; while the stakeholder data collection is done by open interviews. The data obtained from mangrove vegetation are frequency and density; while the stakeholders are in the form of interests, influence, implementation of co-management, and the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders. Based on this study, 16 species of true mangroves were found at 3 observation stations from Avicennia, Bruguiera, Ceriops, Rhizophora, Sonneratia, and Xylocarpus groups. Mangrove management in Langge Village is at the Advisory Committee stage or the advocacy stage.Keywords: Co-Management; management; mangrove; stakeholders

Co-management mangrove ecosystem in The Langge Village, Anggrek District, North Gorontalo Regency

This research aimed to 1) determine the existing condition of Langge Village's mangroves and their utilization, 2) analyze stakeholders, the influence and mapping of co-management, and 3) analyze the form of co-management, roles, and responsibilities of stakeholders towards mangrove management in Langge Village. This research was conducted in August-November 2021. Mangrove vegetation data was collected using the line transect method; while the stakeholder data collection is done by open interviews. The data obtained from mangrove vegetation are frequency and density; while the stakeholders are in the form of interests, influence, implementation of co-management, and the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders. Based on this study, 16 species of true mangroves were found at 3 observation stations from Avicennia, Bruguiera, Ceriops, Rhizophora, Sonneratia, and Xylocarpus groups. Mangrove management in Langge Village is at the Advisory Committee stage or the advocacy stage.Keywords: Co-Management, stakeholders, management, mangrove

Engaging recreational fishers in fisheries’ stewardship: a case of responsibilisation in natural resource management

Neoliberal thought has exerted significant influence over the crafting and delivery of environmental policy. This has manifested in enlisting non-state actors to advance environmental policy agendas in ways that were previously the responsibility of the state. The participation of these non-state actors is positioned as integral to solving intractable environmental challenges, such as the degradation of fish habitat. Drawing on responsibilisation as a technique of governance, this research adopts a case-based study of fisheries rehabilitation policy to explore how recreationists are being mobilized to address environmental problems. Deploying interpretive policy analysis to analyze key policy artifacts this research highlights how fishers as recreational users of aquatic areas are constituted as moral, political and authoritative actors who bear responsibility for ameliorating degraded fish habitats, despite the impacts of recreational fishing on these habitats being contested. We conclude by identifying the implications of this responsibilisation for the implementation of co-management and shared stewardship of fisheries resources.

Transitioning to co-management in Caribbean reef fisheries: Tela Bay case study

Caribbean fisheries are characterized by their heterogeneous socio-ecological conditions. Paradoxically, they are generally managed through a top-down, government centered, one-size fits all approach. Here, we assessed the governance and socioeconomic context of a Caribbean reef fishery (Tela Bay, Honduras), to disentangle the main challenges and opportunities faced during the transition to fisheries co-management. Similar to the rest of the region, Tela Bay communities depend on reef fisheries for their livelihoods and food security but they turned to co-management as a means to achieve a sustainable fishery. We identified four main challenges for the successful implementation of co-management, these were: (1) weak institutions, (2) financial constraints, (3) reduced group cohesion due to the high heterogeneity among stakeholders and (4) lack of formal legal agreements to legitimize co-management arrangements. Despite these challenges, the Tela Bay communities were able to successfully implement co-management, due to 2 key aspects: (1) bridging organizations that fostered multilevel collaboration, promoted participation, strengthened organizations, generated financial support and improved accountability and (2) social capital, reflected through community participation, cooperation, trust and conflict resolution mechanisms. The Tela Bay case study has contributed to sustainability science by demonstrating that the conceptualization of co-management differs according to the socioeconomic context of the fishery. In its early implementation in Caribbean fisheries, co-management should be viewed as institution building and governance. Thus, successful case studies must continue to be monitored to scale-up these efforts in the region.

Single-Species Co-management Improves Fish Assemblage Structure and Composition in a Tropical River

Co-management is increasingly recognized as an effective model for managing fisheries, but little information exists on whether co-management can produce effects in species other than the target species. Fishery co-management in the tropics, where fish diversity is high and fish catches tend to be multispecies, is prone to produce assemblage-wide effects via alterations in the food web and changes in the overall capture of non-target species. Here, we assessed the effects of co-management for the species Arapaima sp. in relation to the structure and composition of the overall fish assemblage in floodplain lakes of the central Amazon Basin. These floodplain lakes are managed under a system of zoning of fishing activities. We used data from surveys of six floodplain lakes, including two lakes of each of three categories (lakes where fishing is prohibited, limited-access lakes, and open fishing lakes). The surveys were carried out before and after implementation of co-management, through gillnet fishing. The study area was the lower Solimões River, in the Amazon Basin, Brazil. Statistical models showed significant changes in the composition and structure of the fish assemblages after the implementation of the co-management, regardless of the zoning category. Through regulation of gear use and fishing practices, co-management allowed the colonization of species that had not been present before, which lead to higher richness and consequently increased fish sizes, abundance and biomass. Species of sedentary habits, migrants of short and medium distances, with commercial importance benefited the most from co-management. In the results presented in temporal scale, it was possible to observe a potential spillover effect being provided by the lakes where fishing is prohibited (no-take zones) and those of limited access that benefited those open to fishing. Thus, co-management had positive effects in the structure and composition of fish assemblages in all lakes, regardless of zoning category.

New Strategies to Improve Co-Management in Enclosed Coastal Seas and Wetlands Subjected to Complex Environments: Socio-Economic Analysis Applied to an International Recovery Success Case Study after an Environmental Crisis

Enclosed coastal seas and wetlands are areas of high ecological value with singular fauna and flora, but several cases of environmental catastrophes in recent decades can easily be referenced in the international literature. The management of these natural territories is complex in developed countries since they are usually subjected to intense human activity with a varied catalog of activities and anthropizing features that alter the balance of the ecosystem. In this article, the concept of the Socio-Ecological System (SES) to diagnose and achieve a sustainable cohabitation between human anthropization and the natural values based on the tool of GIS participatory mapping is proposed as an innovative approach for the management and recovery of these complex areas. The article develops a comprehensive general methodology of spatial GIS diagnosis, planning, and co-management implementation between public and private stakeholders combined with economic tools such as the Willingness to Pay (WTP) and the Cost Transfer Sector (CTS). This innovative approach is applied to the Mar Menor lagoon, which is an international and successful case study of environmental recovery on the Spanish Mediterranean coast. The coastal lagoon suffered an unprecedented eutrophication crisis in 2015, but it managed to recover in the summer of 2018 without the need to implement major structural measures. In this case study, several solutions to redress the current impacts will be developed through a participatory process based on GIS mapping. Lastly, the discussion reflects the concept of self-resilience of an ecosystem based on the unexpected positive turn of the environmental crisis in the lagoon ending.

Framing up the “Stretching” of Co-Management

Collaborative management, or co-management, is recognized as best practice for protected area management. A vast literature explores the benefits and challenges of implementing co-management, but more literature is not always better. We propose that the term co-management has been uncritically “stretched”, losing its original framing of actors working together collaboratively. Co-management has become a facade under which traditional hierarchical and market-based management regimes can occur. Conceptual stretching inhibits the capacity to critically articulate variations within models of collaborative governance. We investigate this stretching through a nuanced framework of co-management models with varying intensities. By considering participating actors, institutions and delivery objectives, the theoretically informed and empirically tested framework highlights the stretched implementation of co-management, enabling protected area managers an opportunity to align their practice with the promise of co-management.

Maneuvering towards adaptive co-management in a coral reef fishery

Tropical coral reef ecosystems in the Pacific region are degrading rapidly as ocean temperatures rise and local anthropogenic stressors increase. In this context of rapid change, effective site-based management of coral reef fisheries necessitates flexible environmental governance that is closely attuned to the needs of multiple stakeholders who depend on the fishery for income, food, and cultural identity. As such, many practitioners and scholars call for adaptive co-management of coral reef fisheries where local resource users play a primary role in environmental governance with the support of flexible institutions that operate across organizational scales. This article describes the history and evaluates the current status of marine governance in Moorea, French Polynesia. Established in 2004, the management framework is under revision because it has failed to meet its ecological objectives and has generated discontent among many stakeholders. Drawing on household surveys, interviews, and archival information, the challenges to as well as the factors that may enable a more successful transition of the current governance arrangement towards co-management are detailed. It is argued that recent social mobilization, subsistence and cultural links to the fishery, the presence of geographically and socially relevant traditional governance boundaries, and the implementation of co-management in other parts of French Polynesia are positive factors. However, lack of trust between stakeholders, social heterogeneity, disruption of traditional cultural institutions and practices, minimal institutional support, and an uncertain legal framework suggest that there are significant headwinds for maneuvering towards successful co-management in Moorea.

From borders to ecotones – Private-public co-management of urban woodland edges bordering private housing

This paper conceptualises and evaluates so-called co-management zones as an approach for user participation in urban forestry, specifically in the management of public woodland edges bordering residential areas. Co-management zones can metaphorically be viewed as ‘ecotone-like’ spaces, i.e. zones where overlapping interest – in this case residents’ and municipal authorities’ – can be used to create richness and meetings rather than boundaries. Building on the perspectives of ecotone thinking and governance arrangements, co-management zones in the Danish residential area of Sletten in Holstebro were evaluated. The presented case study combined interviews with residents and interviews with three key green space professionals who had led the planning, design, establishment and management of the woodland and the implementation of co-management. The resident participation in the co-management zone was also assessed and photo documented in a field survey, categorising individual households according to type and degree of physical signs of participation. Findings illustrate the potential of co-management zones to initiate collaboration between residents and public woodland managers in creating recreationally valuable and varied meetings between private gardens and urban woodlands. Challenges with establishing co-management zones were also highlighted, especially the need for clear guidelines and continuous communication between residents and the municipality. Perspectives and implications related to residents, managers and green space quality are discussed.

An Evaluation of the Implementation of the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Reserve Co-management Approach in Kenya

ABSTRACTSeveral studies have been conducted on the implementation of co-management of forests. There is a significant gap in the current literature regarding the extent to which the implementation ...

Making the transition to co-management governance arrangements in Hawai‘i: a framework for understanding transaction and transformation costs

Co-management has shown great promise in achieving social and ecological goals worldwide. Despite its potential, significant challenges are faced during governance transformations shifting from traditional approaches to fisheries management to co-management systems. Several factors make Hawai‘i an excellent opportunity to study the barriers associated with implementing co-management systems. Hawai‘i implements many of the same types of regulatory and fisheries programs found elsewhere in the U.S., yet it also possesses a unique legacy of customary management systems. In addition, a legal pathway has existed for nearly two decades that allows communities to partner with the State of Hawai‘i to co-manage nearshore coral reef fisheries. Despite the presence of this enabling legislation, extensive community interest in this approach across the archipelago, and significant NGO/Foundation support, co-management implementation remains limited. This study uses a mixed methods approach that relies on semi-structured interviews and archival data sources to conduct an institutional analysis of transaction and transformation costs. These costs serve as barriers to co-management implementation. The study identifies several social and organizational barriers preventing co-management implementation including: governmental structure and operations; planning and administrative processes; organized opposition from special interests; and consensus building processes. The institutional analysis further reveals a wide range of transaction and transformation costs associated with this governance transformation that prevent adoption of co-management. We conclude by identifying some actions that can help reduce these implementation barriers to co-management transitions and prevent conservation stalemates.

Examining Co-management of National Parks through the Lens of Common-pool Resource Design Principles: A Comparative Case Study of Liwonde and Majete in Malawi

Co-management which was founded on common-pool resource design principles has been popularized in solving sustainability challenges of nat ional parks. Co-management was im-posed on all national parks in Malawi under the 2000 Wildlife Policy. However, such a top-down approach might neglect the local contexts that influenced policy implementation. The objective of this study was to examine the implementation of co-management and determine the extent of conformity to Ostrom’s eight design principles. The Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework was engaged through a qualitative case study of Liwonde National Park and Majete Wildlife Reserve. Based on co-management documentations and key informant interviews, the research found varied extents of conformity in the two cases despitea unified national policy framework. Majete was more supportive to the design principles than Liwonde because of resource, user and institutional attributes. The study proposed fine tuningthe implementation process towards contextualizing these attributes for long term delivery of perceivable biodiversity and livelihoods benefits.

Potential of institutional arrangements for sustainable management of forests under co-management with local forest organisations in Mua-Livulezi Forest Reserve, Mtakataka, Malawi

SUMMARY Adoption of participatory forest management has initiated the trend of transfer of access, management and control of forest resources from government to committee based institutions. Hence, understanding the institutional arrangements that support implementation of co-management with local forest organisations (LFOs), is crucial for sustainable forest management. This study therefore, examined the potential and contribution of institutional arrangements to sustainable forest management under co-management arrangement in Mtakataka, Malawi. The results show that while co-management has created new multi-level local forest organisations in the communities, the potential of the organisations to contribute to sustainable forest management has been negatively affected by lack of appropriate power and legitimacy. There are clear and well defined boundaries for the forest resources and communities involved in co-management of the forest reserve. However, co-management is faced with issues such as low part...

Co-managing public research in Australian fisheries through convergence–divergence processes

The participation of the industry in public research has been found essential to stimulate innovation in fisheries, but the actual design and implementation of co-management of fisheries research is still a critical and open topic. Based on the evidence of 35 project cases in Australian fisheries, this paper analyses a convergence–divergence process to support participatory research. The analysis first entails a description of the levels of stakeholders involved and the resources allocated at each step of the research process. This leads to a discussion on the impacts of the research process at different stages depending on how different sections of the industry (constituencies) were engaged. The results show that allocating time, resources and opportunities for industry representatives to engage with their constituencies is a crucial divergence phase of research processes that complements multi-stakeholder deliberations in convergence phases. Consequently, this paper contributes to the debate on research co-management processes by discussing the role of iterative knowledge sharing among stakeholders at multiple levels (e.g. fishers, processing industry, fishery associations and policymakers) in fisheries systems.

Solving Rural Water Exclusion: Challenges and Limits to Co-Management in Costa Rica

Co-management has been promoted as a solution to expanding rural water access. In Central America, community water associations provide water service to 25% of the population, but poor water quality continues to leave many residents at risk of waterborne illness. In Costa Rica, dominant prescriptions for addressing these shortcomings include improvements to the institutional framework and policy reform. In this article, we evaluate the role of institutional arrangements, community involvement, and human capital in ASADA (Administrative Associations for Aqueducts and Sewers, by Spanish acronym) performance. We argue that while national community water management programs can be effective in expanding rural water access, there are limits to the indiscriminate implementation of co-management to address rural/urban water disparity. More specifically, we find that community-level factors impact ASADA performance, and thus need to be considered in policy decisions about whether co-management itself is necessarily the most appropriate approach.

Co-management implementation in forested national reserves: Contradicting cases from China

Forest resource co-management, a new management model introduced from foreign countries, was implemented for more than ten years in China. However, forest resource co-management is currently in a practice and exploration stage. This research compares two contradicting research cases that have the same physical environment and management institutions to further understand co-management mechanisms and practical operations. By linking Ostrom's eight design principles with the actor-centered power theory, this research attempts to explain the success and failure of co-management from institutional arrangement and power theory research perspectives. Based on a series of research surveys, our research shows that the success or failure of forest resource co-management depends not only on the soundness of the co-management institution itself (from the power theory point of view) but also on whether the co-management institution can obtain support from local power actors. More specifically, the success or failure of forest resource co-management depends on whether co-management mechanisms can meet the interests of the local power actors, which are a key factor for deciding the co-management implementation success.