Environmental Governance

Environmental Governance - catalysing change

"Let us never forget that the law is there to work for us, and to protect and support each and every one of us and our right to a clean, healthy and safe environment – wherever we are"

- United Nations Environmental Programme on Environmental Governance

Environmental governance (EG) refers to processes of decision making that have a direct impact on the natural environment. In a world where indiscriminate consumption of natural resources is driving many species to extinction, it is imperative to engage with environmental decision makers and try to encourage policies that work with, rather against, existing ecology.

The objective of Keystone’s work as an advocate and governmental liaison is to strengthen EG mechanisms across the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve, by enabling and encouraging a multi-stakeholder approach focused on decentralized community-based resource management. Keystone works as a catalyst, striving to bring EG centre-stage so that all policies, action, processes have consider the effect on the environment and try to make that effect positive. This effort brings Keystone into conversation with academics, various levels of government, and business interests in an attempt to push EG into mainstream development discourse.

From lobbying for Adivasi houses, strengthening the rights of indigenous people to livelihood resources, and supporting the implementation of the Forest Rights Act, Keystone aspires to situate livelihoods within the larger realm of EG.

Theme introduction

Programme Components

FRA

PVTG FUND

DEGI

CHALLENGES

Finding balance between commercial and environmental interests • The Nilgiris is a precarious and vulnerable district with a rich history, where natural resources are very tightly knitted with the social fabric • Bringing together diverse tribal communities and other local community members is difficult both logistically and socially • Lack of effective enforcement and monitoring mechanisms by concerned authorities leads to lack of impact of legislation

INTERVENTIONS

Conversation and discussions with government representatives as well as local communities • Trainings and workshops on relevant issues such as the Forest Rights Act • Studies and reports on local governance procedures as well as development plans for the area

IMPACTS

Creating a model for how to carry out EG in ecologically sensitive, diverse areas • Providing capacity building for locals and government representatives • Mainstreaming EG, making it accessible for everyone • Decentralizing decision making processes so that local people have more of an impact on their land