Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Major/Program

Public Administration

First Advisor's Name

Jean-Claude Garcia-Zamor

First Advisor's Committee Title

Co-Committee Chair

Second Advisor's Name

Mahadev G. Bhat

Second Advisor's Committee Title

Co-Committee Chair

Third Advisor's Name

Allan Rosenbaum

Fourth Advisor's Name

Milena Neshkova

Fifth Advisor's Name

Shaoming Cheng

Keywords

Biodiversity, Compliance, Implementation, Stakeholders, Global, National, Local, Policies, Capacities

Date of Defense

7-1-2014

Abstract

The Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) was created in 1992 to coordinate global governments to protect biological resources. The CBD has three goals: protection of biodiversity, achievement of sustainable use of biodiversity and facilitation of equitable sharing of the benefits of biological resources. The goal of protecting biological resources has remained both controversial and difficult to implement. This study focused more on the goal of biodiversity protection. The research was designed to examine how globally constructed environmental policies get adapted by national governments and then passed down to local levels where actual implementation takes place. Effectiveness of such policies depends on the extent of actual implementation at local levels. Therefore, compliance was divided and examined at three levels: global, national and local. The study then developed various criteria to measure compliance at these levels. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to analyze compliance and implementation. The study was guided by three questions broadly examining critical factors that most influence the implementation of biodiversity protection policies at the global, national and local levels. Findings show that despite an overall biodiversity deficit of 0.9 hectares per person, global compliance with the CBD goals is currently at 35%. Compliance is lowest at local levels at 14%, it is slightly better at national level at 50%, and much better at the international level 64%. Compliance appears higher at both national and international levels because compliance here is paper work based and policy formulation. If implementation at local levels continues to produce this low compliance, overall conservation outcomes can only get worse than what it is at present. There are numerous weaknesses and capacity challenges countries are yet to address in their plans. In order to increase local level compliance, the study recommends a set of robust policies that build local capacity, incentivize local resource owners, and implement biodiversity protection programs that are akin to local needs and aspirations.

Identifier

FI14071170

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