While the concept of governance is not new its application in protected area management is a new development. Governance is not ‘management’, which is involved in addressing sites or situations, but about who makes the decisions and how. Governance of protected areas has been defined as the regulatory processes, mechanisms and organisations that determine the direction of management, the use of power, and how stakeholders are included in decision-making. Recent research proposes seven principles of good governance for protected areas - legitimacy, transparency, accountability, inclusiveness, fairness, connectivity and resilience. There are many perspectives on what constitutes good governance.
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While the concept of governance is not new its application in protected area management is a new development. Governance is not ‘management’, which is involved in addressing sites or situations, but about who makes the decisions and how. Governance of protected areas has been defined as the regulatory processes, mechanisms and organisations that determine the direction of management, the use of power, and how stakeholders are included in decision-making (see 'Stakeholder Representation and Engagement'). Recent research proposes seven principles of good governance for protected areas - legitimacy, transparency, accountability, inclusiveness, fairness,
connectivity and resilience (see Managing Protected Areas).
Today there is agreement that good governance requires the inclusion of community members and stakeholders in decisions regarding the management of protected areas. In practical terms this is reflected in joint management and co-management arrangements, public consultation, and more inclusive forms of public participation in planning and decision-making (see Transforming Parks and Protected Areas).
The approaches to governance can be classified into three broad types; top-down (hierarchical), market driven (deregulated) or collaborative (distributed/shared).
Current research has identified a number of management models each with different governance implications including the centralised versus decentralised model, scientific model, ecological integrity model, ecosystem based model, active and adaptive management model, adaptive ecosystem management, cooperative management, shared community (integrated) model, community oriented model, shared management model, and parastatal model. Developing models that suit the unique circumstances of each park is relevant to maintaining sustainable park systems. Choosing the correct model will depend on the political, social, cultural, demographic and ecological environment. A trend is occurring towards models allowing greater financial independence from government funding as well as partnerships with stakeholders and businesses.
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