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Developing environmental governance research: the example of forest cover change studies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2011

LUCA TACCONI
LUCA TACCONI*
Affiliation:
Crawford School of Economics and Government, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia
*
*Correspondence: Dr Luca Tacconi Tel: +61 261257554 Fax: +61 261254884 e-mail: luca.tacconi@anu.edu.au
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Summary

Environmental problems are often complex and it is widely recognized that they cannot be satisfactorily addressed by single disciplines. The review of forest cover change studies points to the need to carry out research integrating economic, political, social and environmental aspects. Existing interdisciplinary study areas, namely ecological economics, political ecology, sustainability science and Earth system governance do not yet fully integrate all the required aspects. This paper points out that the establishment of greater synergies between those study areas would be beneficial in developing the broader study area of environmental governance. A definition of environmental governance as a subject of study is developed. Lack of an all encompassing theory of environmental governance is highlighted, while the improbability of such a theory is acknowledged. In relation to normative work, the refinement of principles of good environmental governance could support the design and prioritization of policies. Empirical research needs to include the testing of hypotheses arising from theoretical developments, assessment of policy uptake and new exploratory research. Methodologically, environmental governance might start from an interdisciplinary approach followed by further integration leading to a transdisciplinary study area that uses a mixed methods research approach.

Keywords

deforestationenvironmental governanceinterdiciplinarity
Type
THEMATIC SECTION: Interdisciplinary Progress in Environmental Science & Management
Information
Environmental Conservation , Volume 38 , Issue 2: Thematic section. Interdisciplinary Progress in Environmental Science and Management , June 2011 , pp. 234 - 246
Copyright
Copyright © Foundation for Environmental Conservation 2011

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