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Well-intended natural resource policies that ignore the complexity of socio-ecological systems too often threaten local values and opportunities for sustainable development. Upland areas throughout Indonesia provide examples of complex socio-ecological systems experiencing rapid socio-economic and environmental transformations in response to interactions between development policies and local agendas. Broad natural resource policies influence socio-ecological systems in different ways. In some cases, there are converging national and local goals, while in others the goals of national policy conflict with local aspirations. This study identifies how broadscale policies could respond to the unique characteristics of upland areas to optimise development outcomes and avoid unintended risks for people and the landscape. The theory of reflexive modernity is utilised to illustrate how two national policies, the Community Forestry initiative and the Irrigation Reservoir program, largely discount the complexity of local values in the uplands of Pagar Alam, Indonesia. We identify local farmer aspirations through an analysis of development narratives and relate how they are impacted upon by the two policies. Our findings indicate that dominant development goals and associated sustainability pathways diverge in a range of ways from local farmer values and aspirations. We suggest that policymakers take more consideration of four interacting elements, namely: local ecological traits; local values and institutions; the multiple development pathways; and exogenous market drivers that affect local development, to promote sustainability and increase the likelihood of achieving all desired policy outcomes.

The inclusion of the knowledge and perspectives of Indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLC) in global science-policy processes are increasingly being mandated. This is indicative of the recognition of their expertise and worldviews to inform social and ecological decisions. The IPBES Values Assessment (VA) explicitly highlighted the necessity for a nuanced engagement of different actors while undertaking valuation for decisions related to nature. In this paper we further reflect on the findings of Chapter 6 of the VA that focused on operationalizing diverse values approaches in policy. We examine how IPLC are consulted and their values included in sectoral and cross-sectoral policies interlinked with biodiversity. We specifically share IPLC experiences of the IPBES process based on personal reflections of a participating Indigenous scholar. Apart from emphasizing the pitfalls of excluding diverse IPLC values of nature from decision making, our review also discusses how IPLC perspectives are represented within global forums, and particularly in IPBES processes . Our analysis reveals that meaningful IPLC inclusion pertains to representation of knowledge (mind) and of active participation and agency to bring their networks into the discourse (body). While highlighting some major deficiencies of the current decision-making practices (e.g., lack of pluralistic and inclusive processes, human and financial resources, or culturally sensitive processes) that preclude the full and effective inclusion of IPLC, we offer promising approaches, specifically engaging reflexivity and learning, that can address these deficiencies and move toward ensuring higher representation of IPLC by and for themselves.

Effective environmental governance is deemed essential in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. However, environmental dimensions have no specific reference across the SDG 16 targets and indicators. In achieving SDG 16—the realization of peace, justice, and strong institution, polycentric environmental governance involving multiple actors across scales deserves thoughtful consideration. This study illustrates the potential of a polycentric approach to environmental governance in achieving SDG 16, using case studies of forest, watershed, and transboundary bushland and seascape management in Southeast Asia and Eastern Africa, namely Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Kenya–Somalia cross-border. By highlighting four key elements of polycentric governance namely, political will, legal framework, support from higher-level governance and capacity building, the case studies demonstrate that polycentric governance play a significant role in achieving three environment-relevant SDG 16 targets, yet these targets are silent about environmental governance dimensions. Since many conflicts arise from the environment and natural resources sector, we suggest that (i) polycentric environmental governance be strongly pursued to achieve SDG 16, and (ii) SDG 16 includes indicators specifically directed on polycentric environment and natural resource governance.

Around the world, people express a variety of values of nature based on how they relate and interact with it. These values of nature, broadly classified as instrumental, intrinsic, and relational values, underlie environmental policy and decision‐making processes. In this paper, our aim was to assess the values of nature that are expressed in national environmental policy documents. We assessed the National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), the key national policy framework for biodiversity conservation, from 11 countries, representing the five regional United Nations groups. We used qualitative content analysis to identify the value orientation of the statements in the NBSAPs and the main themes under each. Across the 11 NBSAPs, unspecified value orientation statements were the most common (40%), followed by instrumental (38%), intrinsic (14%) and relational (9%) value orientation statements. We identified the main themes in the instrumental value orientation statements as follows: (1) sustainability, (2) natural resources and (3) ecosystem services. The main themes present in the intrinsic value orientation statements were as follows: (1) recognizing intrinsic value, (2) endangered species and habitats, (3) conservation programmes and (4) threats to nature. Relational value orientation statements referenced as follows: (1) duty and responsibility to protect nature, (2) values expressed for nature, (3) national pride and heritage, (4) Indigenous peoples and local community's (IP&LCs) relationships with nature, (5) protecting nature for future generations and (6) equity in the use and access of nature. Our findings indicate that NBSAPs respond to the directive of the Convention on Biological Diversity. They are primarily based on the instrumental values of nature, only rarely considering other ways in which nature is valuable to people. This can reinforce unjust outcomes for human well‐being since environmental policies may not reflect the diverse ways in which nature and biodiversity matter to the population. In an increasingly interconnected world, environmental policies are called on to incorporate multiple values to achieve positive outcomes for both human well‐being and biodiversity conservation. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. Resumen Evaluación de los multiples valores de la naturaleza reflejados en las Estrategias y Planes de Acción Nacionales en Materia de Diversidad Biológica (EPANDB) En todas las regiones el mundo, las personas expresan una diversidad de valores de la naturaleza en función de cómo se relacionan e interactúan con ella. Estos valores de la naturaleza, que pueden ser clasificados en valores instrumentales, intrínsecos y relacionales, afectan tanto las políticas medioambientales como los procesos de toma de decisiones en torno al medio ambiente. En este trabajo, nuestro objetivo es evaluar los valores de la naturaleza que se expresan en los documentos nacionales de política medioambiental. Con este fin, evaluamos las Estrategias y Planes de Acción Nacionales en materia de Diversidad Biológica (EPANDB) de 11 países distribuidos en los cinco grupos regionales de la ONU. Las EPANDB representan el conjunto de políticas nacionales para la conservación de la biodiversidad. Utilizamos un análisis de contenido cualitativo para identificar la orientación de los valores de la naturaleza reflejados en los EPANDB. Encontramos que en la mayoría de los casos, el valour de la naturaleza no está especificado (40%), que en un 38% de los casos los valores instrumentales se ven reflejados, en un 14% los valores intrínsecos, y en un 9% los valores relacionales. También identificamos los temas principales asociados a los distintos tipos de valores de la naturaleza. Los principales temas asociados a los valores instrumentales son: (1) la sostenibilidad (2) los recursos naturales y (3) los servicios ecosistémicos. Los principales temas asociados al valour intrínseco son: (1) el reconocimiento explicito del valour intrínseco de la naturaleza, (2) referencias a especies y hábitats en peligro, (3) los programas de conservación y (4) las amenazas a la naturaleza. Las temas más frecuentemente asociados a los valores relacionales son (1) el deber y la responsabilidad de proteger la naturaleza (2) los valores expresados por la naturaleza (3) el orgullo y patrimonio nacional (4) las relaciones de los pueblos indígenas y las comunidades locales con la naturaleza (5) la protección de la naturaleza para las generaciones futuras y (6) la equidad en el uso y el acceso a la naturaleza. Nuestras conclusiones indican que las EPANDB responden a la directiva del Convenio sobre la Diversidad Biológica. Se basan principalmente en los valores instrumentales de la naturaleza, y sólo en raras ocasiones tienen en cuenta otras formas en las que la naturaleza es valiosa para las personas. Esto genera un riesgo asociado que se refuercen resultados injustos para el bienestar humano al no reflejar la diversidad de formas en las que la naturaleza es importante para las personas. En un mundo cada vez más interconectado, las políticas medioambientales han de incorporar múltiples valores para lograr resultados positivos tanto para el bienestar humano como para la conservación de la biodiversidad. Résumé Evaluation des valeurs multiples de la nature dans les Strategies et Plans d'Actions Nationaux pour la Biodiversité Diverses valeurs de la nature sont exprimées par les individus en fonction de leur relation et de leur interaction avec la nature, à travers le monde. Ces différentes valeurs de la nature, généralement regroupées en valeurs instrumentales, intrinsèques et relationnelles, sous‐tendent les politiques environnementales et les processus décisionnels dans les pays. L'objectif de cette étude est d'évaluer les valeurs de la nature qui sont exprimées dans les documents nationaux de politique environnementale. Nous avons évalué les Stratégies et Plans d'Action Nationaux pour la Biodiversité (SPANB), qui représentent le principal cadre politique national pour la conservation de la biodiversité, dans 11 pays répartis sur les cinq groupes régionaux des Nations Unies. Nous avons appliqué une analyse qualitative du contenu pour identifier le type de valeur de la nature véhiculé dans les déclarations contenues dans les SPANB et les principaux thèmes de chaque déclaration. Dans les 11 SPANB, les déclarations sans orientation spécifique de valeur de la nature sont les plus courantes (40%), suivies par les déclarations avec une orientation de valeur instrumentale de la nature (38%), de valeur intrinsèque (14%) et de valeur relationnelle (9%). Nous avons identifié les principaux thèmes des déclarations orientées vers les valeurs instrumentales comme étant les suivants (1) la durabilité, (2) les ressources naturelles et (3) les services écosystémiques. Les principaux thèmes présents dans les déclarations qui renvoient aux valeurs intrinsèques de la nature sont les suivants : (1) la reconnaissance de la valeur intrinsèque, (2) les espèces et les habitats menacés, (3) les programmes de conservation et (4) les menaces qui pèsent sur la nature. Les déclarations inhérentes aux valeurs relationnelles font référence (1) au devoir et à la responsabilité de protéger la nature, (2) aux valeurs exprimées pour la nature, (3) à la fierté et aux patrimoines nationaux, (4) aux relations des peuples autochtones et des communautés locales avec la nature, (5) à la protection de la nature pour les générations futures et (6) à l'équité dans l'utilization de la nature et l'accès à celle‐ci. Nos conclusions indiquent que les SPANB répondent aux directives de la Convention sur la Diversité Biologique. Les SPANB sont cependant, principalement basés sur les valeurs instrumentales de la nature et ne prennent que rarement en compte les autres aspects de la valeur de la nature pour l'homme. La predominance des valeurs instrumentales dans les SPANB pourrait conduire à des résultats inappropriés pour le bien‐être humain, vu que les politiques environnementales ne prennent pas en compte les diverses façons dont la nature et la biodiversité sont importantes pour la population. Dans un monde de plus en plus interconnecté, les politiques environnementales sont appelées à intégrer les valeurs multiples de la nature afin d'aboutir à des impacts positifs tant pour le bien‐être humain que pour la conservation de la biodiversité. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Social capital increases participation and the success of conservation projects. However, research often overlooks social capital between program participants and nonparticipants. We examine social capital between participants and nonparticipants in villages across the Cidanau Watershed in West Java, Indonesia. Villages in this region have longstanding participation in a Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) scheme, and previous studies note they contain high levels of social capital. We find that working together, helping each other when someone is in need, and trusting your neighbors are part of the tradition and the history of these communities. Furthermore, we find that high levels of social capital persist between village members who do and do not participate in the PES scheme, despite perceived tensions and jealousy and elite capture in the PES scheme. The high levels of social capital mitigate the social impacts of the PES program. Specifically, participants report giving cash to jealous neighbors and/or providing nonparticipants with information about the PES scheme and encouraging their involvement. The informal actions that participants take to alleviate tension and jealousy mitigate the negative social impacts and perceptions of the PES. Thus, this research extends the literature on PES programs to consider participants and nonparticipants and it demonstrates how high levels of social capital can contribute to project stability by alleviating negative consequences and perceptions through informal mechanisms.

Participants in payments for ecosystem services (PES) schemes can be identified in numerous ways, for example, through social or spatial targeting. However, little is known about how the type of participant targeting will influence the PES outcomes. Using a longstanding PES scheme in Cidanau Indonesia, we evaluate the outcomes of using social and spatial participant identification. The outcomes compared are participant perceptions of equity, understanding, and compliance. This scheme contracts farmers at the group level and has had two implementation phases, the first contracted farmers based on social relationships and the second based on spatial proximity of their plots to reduce monitoring costs. We find that both the social and spatial targeting of participants is perceived as fair, and all participants are complying. Our results thus suggest that the perceived trade‐off between efficiency and equity is not ubiquitous and that efficiency gains were made without compromising compliance and perceived equity. We also find that training for the farmer group (FG) leaders is crucial in ensuring that the rest of the FG members understand the PES scheme and its requirements.

Fil: Balvanera, Patricia. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; México

This study explores the role of gender as a factor in decision making about alternative land use options and in responses to new investment opportunities, which has received little attention to date. An observational study to determine the different factors affecting male and female decisions to change land use at the individual level in a forest margin landscape in Jambi (Sumatra, Indonesia) was combined with a set of role playing games (RPGs) designed to assess participant responses in a simulated social setting of women-only and men-only groups. The RPG included simulated agents offering new opportunities to convert or conserve agroforest. In the study area, rubber (Hevea braziliensis) agroforests that support high biodiversity and carbon storage are giving way to monoculture rubber and oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) plantations. When women from both the upland and lowland villages played the RPGs, external investors proposing logging or oil palm conversion were approached very positively and the resulting land use change was more dynamic and extensive than in the equivalent men-only groups. Consequently, women outperformed men in achieving income targets. In lowland areas gender is strongly associated with land use change, while in the uplands the level of conservation awareness plays a more crucial role in the maintenance of rubber agroforests. Based on the data, and contrary to expectations and gender stereotypes, it is expected that the greater involvement of women in landscape level decision making will increase emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in the area, posing further challenges to efforts to reduce such emissions.