Abstract
After the 2015 election, the federal government’s recommitment to the marine conservation targets set at the Convention of Biological Diversity represented a noticeable cultural shift in environmental governance. When the government reached out to enlist the support of eNGOs, a sudden increase in dialogue and information-sharing resulted; the process for design of marine protected areas became more iterative, and eNGOs found they had more opportunity to provide input in the process. ENGOs were given an opening to shape the nature and success of marine conservation in Canada. In this instance where government and eNGO interests are aligned, it is important to determine the role(s) that eNGOs are playing – what service do they provide to the Canadian public, and what enablers and barriers might arise in pursuit of their objectives? This research aims to understand the role of eNGOs within the Canadian system of environmental governance, and particularly to understand the tactics and information the organizations use to influence marine conservation. It is found that eNGOs use a variety of tactics in both formal and informal settings to achieve their objectives, and that some of their most valuable work at the science-policy interface is as bridging and boundary organizations. Particularly, eNGOs bring in information from outside sources, including scientific data and the voices of vulnerable stakeholders and communities; close gaps in communication between siloed groups; and develop trust relationships for better open communication. eNGOs should recognize the gaps in the decision-making process, and work to fill those gaps by operating as bridging institutions to increase the credibility, legitimacy, and relevance of environmental governance.
Citation
Cadman, R. (2018). “Holding our feet to the fire”: The role of ENGOs in environmental decision-making. [Unpublished Master of Resource and Environmental Management Graduate Research Project]. Dalhousie University.
Related Blog Post
Cadman, R. (2018, February 2). “Holding our feet to the fire”: How ENGOs use information and relationships to advance marine conservation. EIUI Blog. https://eiui.ca/holding-our-feet-to-the-fire-how-engos-use-information-and-relationships-to-advance-marine-conservation/