How do environmental governance processes shape evaluation of outcomes by stakeholders? A causal pathways approach

Area of Science:

• Environmental Management and Governance
• Social-Ecological Systems
• Stakeholder Engagement

Background:

• Multi-stakeholder environmental management and governance are crucial for achieving desired social and ecological outcomes.
• Participation, collaboration, and learning are key components of these processes.
• Understanding how these components influence stakeholder evaluations of outcomes is vital.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the relationships between participation, collaboration, learning, and stakeholder evaluations of outcomes in environmental management.
• To identify the primary drivers (learning vs. collaboration) influencing the link between participation and outcome evaluation.
• To provide insights into how stakeholder perceptions shape engagement in environmental governance.

Main Methods:

• Path analysis was employed to investigate the relationships.
• Data were collected from individuals within four UNESCO Biosphere Reserves.
• The study modeled the influence of participation in activities on process ratings and outcome evaluations.

Main Results:

• Higher participation in activities correlated with higher process ratings.
• Improved process ratings led to better evaluations of outcomes.
• The positive effect of participation on outcome evaluation was found to be driven more by learning than by collaboration.

Conclusions:

• Stakeholder participation in environmental management activities positively influences their evaluation of outcomes, mediated by process perceptions and learning.
• Learning appears to be a more significant driver than collaboration in this pathway.
• Understanding these perceptions is imperative for enhancing current and future stakeholder engagement in environmental stewardship.