Navigating Amazonia under uncertainty: past, present and future environmental governance

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Ecosystem Management
• Conservation Biology

Background:

• Amazon deforestation is a critical 21st-century environmental issue.
• The 2005 dieback crisis highlighted Brazil's ecological challenges.
• Existing public, private, and community institutions face structural barriers in ecosystem management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze institutional failures in Amazonian ecosystem management.
• To apply the adaptive governance concept to understand these failures.
• To identify and evaluate novel initiatives addressing deforestation in Brazil.

Main Methods:

• Review of past and present institutional arrangements for ecosystem management in Amazonia.
• Application of adaptive governance theory to diagnose institutional shortcomings.
• Analysis of emerging knowledge networks and initiatives in Brazil.

Main Results:

• Structural barriers impede effective ecosystem management across various institutional types.
• Adaptive governance provides a framework for understanding institutional failure to ensure sustainable futures.
• Novel initiatives and knowledge networks demonstrate adaptive strategies for navigating complex deforestation drivers.

Conclusions:

• Traditional institutional structures are insufficient for sustainable Amazonian ecosystem management.
• Adaptive governance principles are crucial for developing effective strategies against deforestation.
• Emerging initiatives in Brazil show promise in overcoming deforestation challenges through adaptive approaches.