Collaborations in Environmental Initiatives for an Effective “Adaptive Governance” of Social–Ecological Systems: What Existing Literature Suggests

Elena Andriollo, Alberto Caimo, Laura Secco and Elena Pisani
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Elena Andriollo: Dipartimento Territorio e Sistemi Agro-Forestali (TESAF), Università degli Studi di Padova, Via dell’Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
Alberto Caimo: School of Mathematical Sciences, Technological University Dublin, D07 ADY7 Dublin, Ireland
Laura Secco: Dipartimento Territorio e Sistemi Agro-Forestali (TESAF), Università degli Studi di Padova, Via dell’Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, Italy

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 15, 1-29

Abstract: Moving from the scientific literature on the evaluation of environmental projects and programs, this study identifies how and under which conditions collaborations in environmentally sustainable projects are considered effective for the adaptive governance of SES. The method adopted is a systematic literature review based on the quantitative and qualitative analysis of 56 articles selected through specific queries on the SCOPUS database and published from 2004 to 2020. Results of the quantitative analysis identify conditions able to evaluate collaborations, highlighting the need to adopt a transdisciplinary approach analysing both social and ecological challenges and assessing both social and ecological results. Moreover, they suggest preferring using primary data involving multi-sector and multi-scale actors and enlarging the geographical context to the most vulnerable countries. The results of the qualitative analysis provide specific recommendations for collaborations being effective when related to communication, equity, foresight, and respect, which need to be further strengthened by all actors. Multiplicity in visions and approaches should be seen as a resource able to stimulate creativity in social arrangements and environmental practices, making collaborations in environmental projects instrumental for the effectiveness of adaptive governance of SES.

Keywords: collaboration; adaptive governance; sustainability transformations; social–ecological systems; evaluation; systematic literature review (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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