Description

Governance is, “the system of values, policies and institutions by which a society manages its economic, political and social affairs through interactions within and among the state, civil society and private sector. It is the way a society organizes itself to make and implement decisions—achieving mutual understanding, agreement and action. It comprises the mechanisms and processes for citizens and groups to articulate their interests, mediate their differences and exercise their legal rights and obligations. It is the rules, institutions and practices that set limits and provide incentives for individuals, organizations and firms. Governance, including its social, political and economic dimensions, operates at every level of human enterprise, be it the household, village, municipality, nation, region or globe”. ¹

Governance is a foundational element in the effective management and conservation of biodiversity. Governance systems determine how decisions about biodiversity are made, who has a voice in those decisions, and how resources are allocated and managed. It also fosters accountability and enables the enforcement of laws and agreements aimed at protecting ecosystems and species.

UNDP (2011) ¹