The Functioning Mechanism of a Collaborative Environmental Governance Network in a Coastal Zone: A Case Study of the Wenzhou Dongtou Coastal Zone

Abstract

The coastal zone environment is facing challenges such as marine pollution, biodiversity loss, and the decline in ecological functions. To address these complex and interlinked environmental problems, it is particularly important to build an effective collaborative governance network for the coastal environment. The aim of this study is to explore the functioning of the collaborative governance network for the coastal environment, analyze the interactive relationships among different stakeholders, and examine the structure and functions of the governance network. First, this thesis reviews the relevant literature on coastal environmental governance, elaborates on the theories of collaborative governance and network governance, and constructs the theoretical research framework. Subsequently, the Dongtou area in Wenzhou, a typical representative of cooperative environmental governance in the coastal zone of the East China Sea, was selected as part of an exploratory case study. The role positioning and interaction modes of different actors such as local governments, social organizations, enterprises, and citizens in the governance network were analyzed in detail, and the relationships between network nodes, the network structure, and network functioning were investigated. Subsequently, it was found that a successful cooperative governance network for coastal environmental protection is based on the joint action of four operational mechanisms: the trust mechanism, coordination mechanism, learning mechanism, and guarantee mechanism. Based on the above analysis, this paper summarizes the key elements for building an efficient collaborative coastal environmental governance network and proposes strategies to improve the efficiency of governance. This study introduces a novel framework for analyzing the structural and functional aspects of collaborative governance networks that combines a social network analysis with qualitative insights. This methodological innovation enables a more comprehensive understanding of network’s functioning mechanisms, and also contributes to the theoretical literature on environmental governance by identifying key factors that determine the success of collaborative networks. It offers actionable recommendations for policy makers and practitioners, emphasizing the importance of building solid relationships with stakeholders and leveraging their resources to achieve sustainable environmental outcomes.