Healing Brazil's Blue Amazon: The Role of Knowledge Networks in Nurturing Cross-Scale Transformations at the Frontlines of Ocean Sustainability

Abstract

HIGHLIGHTS• The Anthropocene compels unlocking of ocean-related network capabilities.• Orchestration of local, regional, and global knowledge networks can augment transformative capacity.• Transdisciplinary network diagnostics are promising social learning tools.• Strategic advice for transformational research in ocean territories are provided. This paper dedicates to understanding of what is needed to achieve the transformation of ocean governance. Based on the theory of transformative agency conceptualized in a multi-level governance context, we build on recent novel inter-and transdisciplinary research in Brazil to explore the opportunities for transformation in the dynamic, complex, and multi-level field of ocean governance. We focus this analysis on three transformation processes toward developing a socially and ecologically coherent marine protected area network as the core of a marine spatial planning process for enhanced ecosystem-based polycentric governance of the country's Exclusive Economic Zone. The findings illuminate leverage points for achieving (much needed) transformation in Brazilian ocean governance and potentially beyond. These include: connecting transformative actions into coherent narratives and testing strategic advice derived from theories of transformative agency to promote regime shifts in ocean governance systems; setting of more ambitious social mobilization targets; fostering orchestration of knowledge-networks considering multiple issues, territorial and institutional levels; implementing institutional learning experiments; supporting transformational trajectories toward co-evolutionary, polycentric, ecosystem-and area-based ocean governance systems; and pursuing gradual, incremental structural understanding of Gerhardinger et al. Healing the Blue Amazon with Knowledge-Action Networks a given knowledge network field as a major driver of catalyzing transformative change. Hereby, this article advances understanding of how to better navigate the transformation toward enhanced sustainability in an important part of the Atlantic and hence of our global ocean.

Linking User-Perception Diversity on Ecosystems Services to the Inception of Coastal Governance Regime Transformation

“…Finally, integrated valuation should also (iii) enable reflexivity and experimentation through sets of new scientific parameters for future policy evaluation. Our research is embedded in a "transformations in the making" SES opportunity context at the Babitonga Bay ecosystem level (Gerhardinger et al, 2018b). While our workshop participants are slowly becoming aware and engaged in the reflection about and uptake of the data generated by each cycle of participatory planning series, the results presented in this paper already places us (researchers) in a much better position to represent their values, worldviews and expectations in transformative policy making codesign.…”

“…Since 2015, collaborative activities have been developed in coastal cities around Babitonga Bay through a growing network of over 60 organizations involved in socio-environmental projects, mobilizing direct and indirect resource users, governmental and NGOs into a novel coastal governance architecture for the area (Gerhardinger et al, 2018b). Gerhardinger et al (2018b) have recently analyzed the Babitonga Bay SES trajectory, suggesting that recent interventions have put the SES on the move toward transformation, i.e. tipping the SES to a "hazy-to-transparent" phase of the SES following Westley's et al (2013) theory of transformative agency (TAT).…”

“…This forum is formed by representatives of public and societal sectors and have been endorsed by Brazil's Federal Action Plan for the Coastal Zone as a regional integrated coastal management policy experiment. Gerhardinger et al (2018b) suggests the very existence and operation of PBG indicates that old ways of governing are losing dominance, and institutions and beliefs are opening to reinterpretation in a novel system which enables the exchange of ideas, evaluation of scenarios and definition of new ecosystem-based governance trajectories. This very special policy condition offers a rare opportunity to translate the diversity of resource user perceptions on ES in the crafting of a new, more socially and ecologically equitable and coherent vision for the future of the SES.…”

Complejidades y desafíos sociales en iniciativas de conservación ¿Quién forma parte de la comunidad?

“…De forma de evitar estas situaciones descritas en este artículo, actualmente encontramos enfoques que promueven una fuerte innovación en la gobernanza y protección de los océanos como herramientas de diagnóstico transdisciplinarias, donde, entre otras iniciativas y acciones, se reconozca a los seres humanos como una parte integral de las complejidades socio-ecológicas y sus soluciones, se considere una mirada de abajo hacia arriba, con mucho input de las comunidades en la entrega de conocimiento y gestión en el ámbito marino (Gerhardinger et al 2018).…”

Analysing Ecosystem User Perceptions of the Governance Interactions Surrounding a Brazilian Near Shore Coral Reef

“…More recently, population growth in coastal zones, large-scale tourism, coastal construction, uncontrolled industrial development at the land-sea interface including drilling for oil and gas, the expansion of modernized inshore fisheries, and large-scale fishing fleets have put increasing pressure on reefs [14]. Governance must respond to the shifting social and ecological variables that are affecting the health of coral reef ecosystems [15]. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are perceived as an important instrument to include coral reef ecosystems in an integrated coastal and marine management approach [6,[16][17][18].…”