Structural factors influencing conservation decision-making: a case of species prioritisation in Australia
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCUAbstract
Prioritisation methods have been adopted for >20 years to inform resource allocation in species conservation. The academic literature on prioritisation focuses on technical matters, with little attention to the socio-political factors affecting the uptake of priorities. We investigated the policy instruments employed to promote uptake, and the structural factors affecting the uptake of priorities, using as our case study a species prioritisation method adopted by the Queensland Government (Australia). We interviewed 79 key informants and analysed policy documents and plans. The Queensland Government relied on 'information delivery' as a policy instrument to foster uptake. We identified communication channels to assist 'information delivery' between Government and intended users, but also found that several structural factors limited their use: fragmentation of policies, the relative strength of alternative priorities and centralisation of power in decision-making. We discuss the results in relation to other conservation planning initiatives and suggest how structural barriers can be addressed.
Journal
Journal of Environmental Planning and Management
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N/A
Volume
60
ISBN/ISSN
1360-0559
Edition
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Issue
11
Pages Count
21
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Publisher
Routledge
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EISSN
N/A
DOI
10.1080/09640568.2016.1268107