Environmental governance theories: a review and application to coastal systems

This article synthesizes and compares environmental governance theories. For each theory we outline its main tenets, claims, origin, and supporting literature. We then group the theories into focused versus combinatory frameworks for comparison. The analysis resonates with many types of ecosystems; however, to make it more tangible, we focus on coastal systems. First, we characterize coastal governance challenges and then later link salient research questions arising from these challenges to the theories that may be useful in answering them. Our discussion emphasizes the usefulness of having a diverse theoretical toolbox, and we argue that if governance analysts are more broadly informed about the theories available, they may more easily engage in open-minded interdisciplinary collaboration. The eight theories examined are the following: polycentricity, network governance, multilevel governance, collective action, governmentality (power / knowledge), adaptive governance, interactive governance theory (IGT), and evolutionary governance theory (EGT). Polycentricity and network governance both help examine the links or connections in governance processes. Polycentricity emphasizes structural configurations at a broader level, and network governance highlights agency and information flow within and between individuals or organizations. Collective action theory is helpful for examining community level governance, and helps analyze variables hindering or enabling self-organization and shared resource outcomes. In contrast, multilevel governance helps understand governance integration processes between localities, regions, and states across administrative, policy, or legal dimensions. Governmentality is helpful for understanding the role of discourse, power, knowledge, and narratives in governance, such as who creates them and who becomes governed by them with what effect. Adaptive governance helps analyze the links between context, change, and resilience. IGT helps examine the interdependencies between the systems being governed and the governing systems. EGT is helpful for unpacking how coevolutionary processes shape governance and the options for change

TOURISM – AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE ECONOMIC INVIGORATION OF RURAL AREAS IN ROMANIA?

The Romanian rural area is a space that, in the context of the transition from centralized economy to market economy, has accumulated multiple dysfunctions, whose resolution requires the identification of viable solutions, matching local potential and at the same time preserving traditional specificity. In terms of cultural, historical, natural and economic values, the Romanian village has proved to be a highly original tourism product. The article analyzes the evolution of Romanian rural tourism, highlighting the stages of its development, and paying special attention to the current stage that witnesses the solid consolidation of the extant niche of rural tourism as part of Romanian tourism. This consolidation led to several rural tourism destinations in Romania standing out on the international market (Bran-Moeciu, Maramureş, the Danube Delta, the Banat, Bucovina)

Contributions of marine area-based management tools to the UN sustainable development goals

Area-Based Management Tools (ABMTs) are spatial instruments for conservation and managing different forms of ocean use. A multitude of ABMTs exists in marine areas within and beyond national jurisdiction, ranging from tools for the regulation of specific human activities (e.g. fisheries, shipping, or mining) to cross-sectoral tools (e.g. such as marine protected areas, MPAs, and marine spatial planning, MSP). By applying expert elicitation and reviewing scientific and grey literature we evaluate the contribution of ABMTs to sustainable development goals (SDGs) as set out under the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including for SDG 14 that directly addresses the conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas, and marine resources. We find that fisheries-related and conservation-related ABMTs, and MSP offer the greatest potential contributions to SDG 14 and to SDGs in general. Moreover, there is high complementarity and synergy among different ABMTs for most SDG 14 targets and other SDGs, with the exception of SDG target 14.6 Prohibit fisheries subsidies and SDG 7 Affordable and clean energy. We find that some ABMTs contribute directly to goal attainment, while others contribute in more nuanced or even unexpected ways. Furthermore, context-specific factors that relate to political and legal factors, enforceability, transparency, governance structure, and inclusivity are crucial for unlocking the full potential of ABMTs of attaining multiple SDGs, as shown through examples. The major challenge to face in the next decade is ensuring durable and equitable outcomes from ABMT implementation by coordinating ABMT initiatives established by different organisations and responsible authorities. It is also critical that outcomes are monitored and evaluated across environmental, social, economic, governance, and health dimensions, with indicators addressing management effectiveness and not only ABMT area coverage

Data about marine area-based management tools to assess their contribution to the UN sustainable development goals

The dataset presented in this article contains information about marine Area-Based Management Tools (ABMTs) used to assess their contribution to the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Following the scope of the analysis, ABMTs were identified by scrutinizing international and regional legal sources related to ocean management in the fields of marine conservation, fisheries, deep sea bed mining, underwater natural and cultural heritage, environmental conservation, and marine spatial planning. Legal sources were screened to depict the following characteristics of individual ABMTs: i) management objectives; ii) authorities responsible for delivering such objectives; iii) the system of management and planning entailed in the ABMT including the zoning type; and iv) the specific spatial scope and domain each ABMT refer to in vertical depth and horizontal domain. Data were generated through an internal expert elicitation. Experts, initially trained in the data analysis and related protocol, contributed to the data production because of their specific knowledge and experience in ocean management. This dataset represents a unique source of information for advancing research about monitoring and assessment of the achievement of sustainable development goals that encompasses different types of ABMTs

Fuzzy-Logic Cognitive Mapping: Introduction and Overview of the Method

Lack of information and large uncertainties can constrain the effectiveness and acceptability of environmental models. Fuzzy-logic cognitive mapping (FCM) is an approach that deals with these limitations by incorporating existing knowledge and experience. It is a soft-knowledge approach for system modeling, where components of a system and their relationships are identified and semi-quantified in a participatory way. Its usefulness has been manifested through applications in a variety of disciplines, including engineering, information technology, business, and medicine. This chapter introduces FCM as a simple, transparent, and flexible participatory method to model complex social-ecological systems based on expert and stakeholder knowledge. It describes the evolution of FCM to environmental modeling due to its ability to facilitate public participation, data generation, and systems thinking. Numerous actors can be involved when studying environmental issues: experts, scientists, decision makers, and other stakeholders. Thus, a wide range of opinions and perceptions can be taken into account, providing a platform for discussion and negotiation among different actors. Moreover, data that is otherwise inaccessible can be gathered through FCM. Finally, one of the most significant characteristics of the method is the possibility to study causal relationships and feedback loops. In this way, FCM supports decision-making by simulation and scenario studies