Increasing Capacity for Stewardship of Oceans and Coasts A Priority for the 21st Century (2008) / Chapter Skim
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6 Building Capacity in Ocean and Coastal Governance
6 Building Capacity in Ocean and Coastal Governance
Pages 89-105
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From page 89... ...
There are many descriptions of the phases in which ocean and coastal governance initiatives evolve (Chua and Scura, 1992; United Nations Environment Programme, 1995, 2006; Joint Group of Experts on Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection, 1996; Cicin-Sain and Knecht, 1998; Olsen et al., 1999; Olsen, 2003; Chua, 2007)
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From page 90... ...
In many regions, however, particularly in developing nations, the power of the government is quite limited, and it is the market -- increasingly the global market -- that determines how ocean and coastal resources are used and how associated individual development decisions are made. In contexts where informal rules dominate, it is especially important that those working in ocean and coastal management understand the features and dynamics of the three governance mechanisms.
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From page 91... ...
Frustration with the many difficulties and recognition of the value of harnessing capability and commitment in civil society led to the channeling of many investments in ocean and coastal management to nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)
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From page 92... ...
. It is increasingly unusual for an ocean or coastal management initiative to start with a clean slate.
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From page 93... ...
Although capacity-building efforts should instill knowledge and skills in the target community, effective governance may also require a shift in attitude toward resource stewardship rather than only resource exploitation; this usually requires many years of sustained effort. For all those reasons, developing a governance baseline is an important preliminary step to be taken before investments in capacity-building are made.
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From page 94... ...
They will need to understand the implica tions of scientific uncertainty in making management decisions and will need to work with interdisciplinary teams to avoid reactive decision-making and instead formulate effective policies based on the best available science (Pew Oceans Commission, 2003; National Research Council, 2004)
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From page 95... ...
Knowledge of how ocean and coastal ecosystems function and change and particularly of the combinations of conditions that make an ecosystem more or less resilient is necessary to address such critical decisions as the selection of the boundaries for an ecosystem governance initiative. Stresses on marine ecosystems arise from activities at local, national, and international levels that may be driven by market forces, government policies, or cultural traditions.
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From page 96... ...
Administration Administrative skills are essential in the building of complex programs that require col laborative planning and action by diverse government institutions, business interests, scientific organizations, and stakeholders. Negotiating skills are essential because much of the day-to-day business of administering an ocean or coastal management program is dedicated to analyzing and mediating among institutions, groups, and individuals with different interests and diverging values.
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From page 97... ...
Instilling a stewardship ethic in the public is essential for improving ocean and coastal governance, but stewardship cannot be fostered if the public is ignorant or misinformed. Without an acknowledgment of the effects associated with established patterns of behavior and a willingness to take the necessary action, achieving a collective commitment to more responsible lifestyles and new policies will be difficult (Pew Oceans Commission, 2003)
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From page 98... ...
. A well-prepared professional ideally has a realistic appreciation for the many years of sustained effort necessary to move an ocean or coastal management program from initia tion to formal adoption and implementation.
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From page 99... ...
Assembling and Managing Interdisciplinary Teams Effective stewardship requires capacities that are multidisciplinary -- incorporating observations of the physical and chemical environment; ecosystem properties, processes, impacts of human activities, and biodiversity. Building capacity entails such factors as human-resource development through education and training, institutional and infra
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From page 100... ...
Interdisciplinary teams of professionals draw on the experience and perspectives of a broad spectrum of disciplines to address complex ocean and coastal management issues. For example, development of a coral reef management plan initially requires char acterization of the reef's natural and physical environment (for example, ecology, fish populations, water quality and currents, and spatial relationship to other ecosystems)
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From page 101... ...
The professional certification programs of the American Fisheries Society and the Ecological Society of America are well-developed and respected systems for recognizing levels of professional knowledge and competence. The objectives of such professional certification are to provide government and nongovernmental agencies and organizations, private firms, courts, and the general public with standards of experience and education for qualified professionals and to recognize professionals as educated, experienced, and ethical and as acting in the best interest of society and the public.
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From page 102... ...
Although ocean and coastal management programs may be good to excellent in technical quality, they typically fall short in implementing their action plans. The response to that situation in many cases has been to impose increasingly com plex monitoring and evaluation systems that consume considerable time and resources and create frustration in all involved.
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From page 103... ...
fig 6-1 achievement of the specific social and environmental quality goals that prompted the entire effort. Such an approach is useful in that it focuses investments in capacity-building on the distinct thresholds of capacity to practice ecosystem-based management relative to a governance baseline.
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From page 104... ...
No formulaic approach can be universally applied, but a strategic approach that assesses gov ernance baselines and identifies barriers to implementation will provide a sounder basis for designing programs to encourage environmental stewardship. A governance baseline that describes the strengths and interactions among the three governance mechanisms (markets, government, and civil society)
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From page 105... ...
Shared experiences and successes help to strengthen constituencies for a stewardship ethic and generate the political will required for sustained, purposeful action.
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