Adaptive Water Governance: Lessons Learned from Implementing an Ecosystem Approach in Mesoamerica

The devil’s in the details: An ecosystem-based adaptation and adaptive governance framework for analyzing governance challenges to addressing peatland restoration problems

“…This influence is exemplified by the prevalent perception that peatland restoration primarily serves environmental conservation goals rather than integrating economic and social aspects. Local governments, often constrained by limited budgets and capacity, may prioritize short-term economic interests over long-term social-ecological benefits (Iza 2021).…”

“…Peatland restoration involves multiple stakeholders, including local communities, government agencies, and environmental organizations and as such requires a collaborative and inclusive approach that encourages the active participation of diverse actors, leveraging their knowledge and expertise to enhance the restoration outcomes. Adaptive governance characterized by multi-scale approaches, flexible governance structures and context-specific knowledge is thereby proposed in this study to help address both conceptual and implementation limitations of EbA in peatland restoration (Folke et al 2005;Iza 2021).…”

“…The governance of peatland restoration is a complex and multifaceted process that requires a range of adaptive strategies and considerations. Within this context, Iza (2021) has therefore identified solid AG components that can address the limitations of EbA strategies by establishing conceptual framings and attribute level overlaps between the two. At the conceptual level, AG includes a focus on polycentric and multi-layered institutions, as well as participation and collaboration that acknowledge the diverse range of stakeholders and interests involved in peatland restoration.…”

“…At the conceptual level, AG includes a focus on polycentric and multi-layered institutions, as well as participation and collaboration that acknowledge the diverse range of stakeholders and interests involved in peatland restoration. This allows for the integration of local knowledge and expertise that can create a more inclusive and comprehensive approach for restoring peatlands (Iza 2021;Munene et al 2018). Research conducted in the transboundary Crown of the Continent Ecosystem indicated that stakeholder perceptions are crucial for future success in restoring and managing ecosystems (Johnson and Becker 2015).…”

“…Despite the growing body of literature on barriers to peatland restoration, few studies have been explicit about the inherent reason these problems are so challenging for governance. Nevertheless, other scholars have more recently argued that ineffective governance of peatland restoration can result in inadequate adaptation and mitigation strategies, affecting both the ecosystem and livelihoods which are crucially intertwined and both under threat from climate change (Gupta et al 2010;Iza 2021;Terzano et al 2022).…”