PhD scholar

Governance, the environment and mobilizing local knowledge and capacity

E-mail: cameron.holley@anu.edu.au

In the last three decades the regulation of environmental and natural resource problems (ENRPs) has shifted from a top-down state-delivered activity to one involving 'webs', 'networks' and 'collaborations'.

Both internationally and nationally, governments have been actively experimenting with this new way of governing ENRPs and have implemented a variety of on ground experiments that differ institutionally and spatially. But will these experiments 'work', and if so how? How can accountability and democratic legitimacy be effectively maintained in processes where local and regulated interests are often the main decision makers and implementers?

The answers to such questions remain uncertain, not least because existing regulatory and governance theory has yet to come to terms with these collaborative experiments. Accordingly, this project seeks to (i) advance our understanding of what this new form of collaborative governance involves; and (ii) provide insights for theory and practice regarding the above questions so as to guide the development of future collaborative initiatives.

To achieve these goals this project seeks to examine and draw critical distinctions and comparative lessons between the following Australian experiments in collaborative governance:

• Environment Improvement Programs • Neighbourhood Environment Improvement Programs • Regional Natural Resource Management Initiatives