Less government intervention in biodiversity management: risks and opportunities

Abstract

In a changing global environment, with increasing pressure on ecosystem goods and services, biodiversity conservation is likely to become increasingly important. However, with the current global financial crisis, governments are increasingly trying to stabilise economies through spending cuts aiming to reduce national deficits. Within such an economic climate, the devolution of governance through public participation is an intrinsically appealing concept. We outline a number of challenges that explain why increased participation in biodiversity management has been and may continue to be problematic. Using as a case study the local stakeholder-driven Moray Firth Seal Management Plan in Scotland, we identify four key conditions that were crucial to the successful participatory management of a biodiversity conflict: a local champion, the emergence of a crisis point, the involvement of decision-makers, and long-term financial and institutional support. Three of the four conditions point to the role of direct government involvement, highlighting the risk of devolving responsibility for biodiversity conflict management to local communities. We argue that without an informed debate, the move towards a more participatory approach could pose a danger to hard-won policy gains in relation to public participation, biodiversity conservation and conflict management.

How does the context and design of participatory decision making processes affect their outcomes? Evidence from sustainable land management in global drylands

“…This may also point toward the need for selection or grouping of participants according to the process objectives. These findings and especially the need for government involvement to achieve wider stakeholder acceptance are in line with results reported by Young et al (2012) and Sandström et al (2014).…”

Integrating Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Fisheries Management in the Torres Strait, Australia: the Catalytic Role of Turtles and Dugong as Cultural Keystone Species

“…Such comanagement is particularly necessary when stakeholders hold conflicting values for the services provided by a species (Butler et al 2006, Thompson et al 2007, Butler 2011, Young et al 2012. Turtles and dugong bear these characteristics.…”

Understanding stakeholder conflict between conservation and hunting in Malta

“…This would increase its scope and authority, consolidating it as the main channel through which opinions and complaints regarding the hunting issue are voiced and debated. This push for inclusivity needs however to be strategic (Hemmati, 2002), as efforts to include all stakeholders can lead to costly and protracted processes (Young et al, 2012). Another key issue that has surely hampered the credibility of the ORNIS committee is the current vote distribution where the Maltese state effectively has more votes than all other stakeholders together.…”