Evaluating Conservation International's Marine Management Area Science Program by Jesse Guite Hastings Department of Environme
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Evaluating Conservation International’s Marine Management Area Science Program by Jesse Guite Hastings Department of Environment Duke University Date:_______________________ Approved: ___________________________ Michael Orbach, Supervisor ___________________________ Lisa Campbell ___________________________ Larry Crowder ___________________________ Leah Karrer Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Environment in the Graduate School of Duke University 2011 ABSTRACT Evaluating Conservation International’s Marine Management Area Science Program by Jesse Guite Hastings Department of Environment Duke University Date:_______________________ Approved: ___________________________ Michael Orbach, Supervisor ___________________________ Lisa Campbell ___________________________ Larry Crowder ___________________________ Leah Karrer An abstract of a dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Environment in the Graduate School of Duke University 2011 Copyright by Jesse Guite Hastings 2011 Abstract Environmental non-governmental organizations are now major players in environmental science and conservation. The largest now produce applied conservation science and work on local, national, and international scales and across scales to conserve marine and terrestrial ecosystems and connect local level environmental issues to international economic and political processes. However, despite the growing role of these organizations, there is still a lack of comprehensive examinations of their programs with a full analysis of programmatic design, structure, processes, and outcomes. To fill this gap in both conservation practice and academic theory, I conducted a multi-scalar examination of Conservation International’s Marine Management Area Science initiative. This $12.5 million initiative, lasting from 2005 until 2010 and funded by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, had four main nodes of research and conservation work: Fiji, Belize, Eastern Tropical Pacific Seascape, and Brazil. Using non- governmental organization and science and technology studies literature as a theoretical framework, I endeavored to determine what factors affect how environmental non- governmental organizations manage the boundaries across multiple scales and between science and policy in international marine management area science initiatives. Drawing upon methodological approaches in multi-sited ethnography and participant action research, I conducted qualitative field research at each of the initiative’s four main node sites and at Conservation International’s headquarters, while simultaneously engaging iv with Conservation International so to return results back to the organization for adaptive management and learning. My results are consistent with theoretical predictions and lend lessons learned to conservation practice. My research shows that managing the boundaries across scales and between science and policy in international marine management area science initiatives depends on how the program was initiated, the use of networks, partnerships, and coalitions, the level of programmatic participation, the degree of accountability and the ability to learn, the translation of scientific knowledge, and the assessment context. Future research on other environmental non-governmental organization programs has the potential to extend these findings. v Dedication I would like to dedicate this dissertation to my wife, Mariam Lucila Sharaf. Mariam had patience with and love for me as I spent months burying my head in the literature, putting together proposals, waiting on grant applications, travelling abroad to multiple countries, analyzing data, and writing, writing, writing. Mariam, this dissertation is for you. vi Contents Abstract ......................................................................................................................................... iv List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. xi List of Figures .............................................................................................................................. xii Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................. xiii 1 Chapter One - Introduction .................................................................................................... 1 1.1 The Rise of ENGOs .......................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Introduction to Conservation International’s MMAS Initiative ................................ 7 1.3 Goals, Questions, and Layout of the Dissertation ....................................................... 9 2 Chapter Two – Theoretical Framework .............................................................................. 15 2.1 Defining, Creating and Managing Marine Managed Areas .................................... 15 2.2 ENGOs as Multi-Scalar Conservation Actors ............................................................ 23 2.2.1 ENGOs at the International Scale ..................................................................... 23 2.2.2 ENGOs at the National Scale ............................................................................ 30 2.2.3 ENGOs at the Local Scale .................................................................................. 33 2.2.4 ENGOs Crossing Scales ..................................................................................... 35 2.3 Translating Science into Policy .................................................................................... 49 2.3.1 Boundaries between Science and Policy ......................................................... 50 2.3.2 Boundary Organizations ................................................................................... 52 2.3.3 Characteristics of Effective Assessments......................................................... 55 2.4 Evaluating MMAS ......................................................................................................... 62 3 Chapter Three - Methodology .............................................................................................. 65 vii 3.1 Defining Multi-sited Pragmatic Action Research ...................................................... 66 3.2 Application of Multi-sited Pragmatic Action Research ............................................ 70 4 Chapter Four - Results ........................................................................................................... 87 4.1 CI as an organization ..................................................................................................... 87 4.2 CI’s ENGO Peers ............................................................................................................ 96 4.3 MMAS Beginnings ....................................................................................................... 103 4.3.1 Defying Ocean’s End ........................................................................................ 103 4.3.2 The Scientific Advisory Committee and Early Projects .............................. 106 4.3.3 Move to S2A Focus ........................................................................................... 111 4.3.4 Hiring of Senior Director, Creation of Themes and Workplan .................. 112 4.4 Structure and Staffing of MMAS ............................................................................... 114 4.5 Fiji ................................................................................................................................... 128 4.5.1 Socio-economic, institutional, environmental context ................................ 128 4.5.2 Translation from International to Local ........................................................ 134 4.5.3 Translation from Science to Policy ................................................................. 143 4.5.4 Policy, Management, Capacity Building Outcomes .................................... 152 4.5.5 Emergent Themes across Case ........................................................................ 159 4.6 Belize .............................................................................................................................. 163 4.6.1 Socio-economic, institutional, environmental context ................................ 163 4.6.2 Translation from International to Local ........................................................ 167 4.6.3 Translation from Science to Policy ................................................................. 176 4.6.3 Policy, Management, Capacity Building Outcomes .................................... 183 viii 4.6.4 Emergent Themes across Case ........................................................................ 187 4.7 Panama and Galapagos ............................................................................................... 191 4.7.1 Socio-economic, institutional, environmental context ................................ 191 4.7.2 Translation from International to Local ........................................................ 198 4.7.3 Translation from Science to Policy ................................................................. 208 4.7.4 Policy, Management, Capacity Building Outcomes ...................................