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Information brokerage in Caribbean coral reef governance networks

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 October 2020

Rachel A Turner Open the ORCID record for Rachel A Turner [Opens in a new window] ,
Johanna Forster ,
Angelie M Peterson ,
Robin Mahon  and
Clare Fitzsimmons
Rachel A Turner*
Affiliation:
Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES), University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados Environment and Sustainability Institute (ESI), University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn, UK
Johanna Forster
Affiliation:
School of Natural & Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK School of International Development, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
Angelie M Peterson
Affiliation:
Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES), University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados
Robin Mahon
Affiliation:
Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES), University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados
Clare Fitzsimmons
Affiliation:
School of Natural & Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Dr Rachel A Turner, Email: [email protected]
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Summary

Poor connectivity between diverse resource users and complex wider governance networks is a challenge in environmental governance. Organizations that ‘broker’ interactions among these relationships are expected to improve governance outcomes. Here, we used semi-structured interviews and social network analysis to identify actors in positions to broker coral reef-related information to and from resource users and to assess the performance of these brokers. Representatives (n = 262) of actor groups were interviewed, including local and national government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community organizations and resource user groups from 12 communities across four Caribbean countries, to map information-sharing networks and to identify brokers. Broker performance was assessed through separate interviews with coral reef resource users (n = 545). The findings show that marine NGOs were the highest-functioning brokers. Where such local-level organizations were absent, government agencies in reef management roles acted as brokers, but their performance was lower. Actors in brokerage positions did not always effectively share information, with broker performance being positively correlated with network brokerage scores. The results further our understanding of the roles of brokers in different governance contexts. Identifying those in brokerage positions and supporting their roles in connecting local resource users to wider governance networks could encourage functional brokerage and enhance reef management outcomes.

Keywords

brokerageCaribbeancoral reefsgovernanceinformation sharingnatural resource managementsocial network analysis
Type
Research Paper
Information
Environmental Conservation , Volume 47 , Issue 4 , December 2020 , pp. 284 - 294
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Foundation for Environmental Conservation

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