ABSTRACT
Natural resource governance, especially in the context of decentralization, emphasizes the utility of bringing together diverse stakeholders from different levels of society to define rules and processes for resource management collectively. Stakeholders frame problems and attempt to influence management differently according to their subjective view of the world, shaped by their knowledge, interests, power and personal experience with natural resources. Participatory and collaborative approaches to governance recognise that though these differences create challenges for decision-making, they also create opportunities for learning and improvement. Furthermore, these approaches give people greater ownership in the governance system, which facilitates implementation of policies, rules and informal agreements due to broad support from leaders and resource users. In this context, effective governance systems gain momentum from the collective action of stakeholders rather than top–down enforcement by government officials. Adaptive governance further emphasizes the importance of monitoring and evaluation, specifically by involving stakeholders in reviewing the effectiveness of the rules and processes that govern resource management.
