Understanding responsibility for biodiversity in the UK Overseas Territories: Preliminary findings from a research project

Abstract

The UK Overseas Territories boast some of the most iconic environments on Earth and harbour a myriad of unique flora and fauna. As elsewhere, this biodiversity is fragile and vulnerable to human-induced pressures. And a myriad of actors – from governments to NGOs – are working to ensure its sustainable use and conservation for the future. However, responsibility for biodiversity is not always clear. Hence, in this poster I ask: how do diverse stakeholders understand responsibility for biodiversity in the UK Overseas Territories? The research draws on qualitative interviews with 45 stakeholders from UK and Overseas Territory government departments and agencies, civil society and scientific organisations. I show that perceived responsibility for biodiversity differs depending upon the ‘mode of political organisation’ considered most appropriate for a given issue. The three concurrent and interdependent ‘modes of political organisation’ are i) government, ii) environmental management, and iii) environmental governance. Each offers distinct answers to the questions: Who is responsible? What is responsibility? And, what resources or capacities are needed to enact responsibility? Recognising that responsibility can take different forms ensures the widest possible range of actors are enabled and empowered to contribute to sustaining biodiversity in the UK Overseas Territories. Show more