77 / 100
77
Governance plays a central role in achieving effective,
sustainable mountain ecosystem development. The
term ‘governance’ refers to the action or manner of
governing a state, organization, etc. and is exercised
through institutions: laws, property rights systems
and forms of social organization (UNEP, 2012).
Governance involves not only formal means of
control and authority most commonly associated
with governments, through the enforcement of
established policies and laws, but also a variety of
informal approaches through influence or setting
standards and principles for a course of action.
Experience from both historical and current practices
point to the fact that effective natural resource
governance must recognize and integrate the
Governance of mountain ecosystem conservation
and development
principle of ‘environmental or natural resource justice’,
which refers to the fair treatment and meaningful
involvement of all people regardless of race, nationality,
culture, gender, education or income with respect to
the development, implementation and enforcement
of environmental laws, regulations and policies.
Remedies for environmental deterioration recognize
the intrinsic value of, nature and viewing humans
as part of, owners of the natural resources thereof
(Mayhew, 2009). This highlights the need for focusing,
not only on the relationship between states and civil
society, but also on all other stakeholders, including
the private sector and individuals, regardless of their
status. This requires consideration of both traditional
and formal systems of natural resource governance.
The former comprises mainly of unwritten traditional
systems and customs that wield influence and control,
such as rules, behavioural standards, rituals and
taboos, aimed at ensuring stewardship of various
environmental resources (NEMA, 2008).
It is of paramount importance to recognize that
the conservation and development of East African
mountain ecosystems requires effective natural
resource governance and that the sustainable use
of resources is a prerequisite for the conservation
of mountain ecosystems and the socioeconomic
development of mountain communities. Both
traditional and formal systems of governance have
to be considered to overcome the problems and
challenges of conservation, development and the
impacts of climate change in mountain regions.
Hummingbird in Virunga National Park, DRC
Geladas in Simien National Park, Ethiopia