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What is TGER

The Theme on Governance, Equity and Rights (TGER) is one of the main work Themes mandated to CEESP by the IUCN Members' Assembly at the Third World Conservation Congress in Bangkok (November 2004). While the Theme is new, its members and accumulated experience are not. The Theme, in fact, directly evolved from the work of the pre-existing CEESP Collaborative Management Working Group (CMWG), active since 1996. CMWG successfully promoted and supported field-based co-management (CM) initiatives, derived lessons and methods from experience, supported the development of CM policies, and advocated the inclusion of CM principles and practices in the programmes and structures of IUCN and other organizations.

Besides following the CEESP mandate, TGER takes inspiration from a number of IUCN Resolutions endorsed by the IUCN Members' Assembly in Bangkok (November 2004). These include Resolution 3.012 as well as Resolutions 3.015, 3.018, 3.047 , 3.049, 3.050, 3.055, 3.056, 3.065, 3.067 and Recommendation 3.081, as well as Resolutions from the IUCN Members' Assembly in Barcelona (October 2008).

Goal

If one issue is central for the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable and equitable use of natural resources this is-undoubtedly-governance. Due in part to the impulse of the World Conservation Union and its Commissions, governance has come into the policy spotlight. Governance has to do with power, relationships, responsibility and accountability. A specific “governance setting” for a body of natural resources reflects what a society enables as fair, or is prepared to accept as such; the setting defines the whos and hows of authority, responsibility and accountability regarding natural resources. Clearly, governance depends on formal institutions, processes, tenure and access to resources and other legal rights. For instance, governance settings change dramatically when authorities open up to pluralism and recognize multiple interests and values in society. But governance also depends on history, culture, customary rights, access to information, presence of markets, financial flows and a variety of informal influences on decisions. Governance affects the achievement of the relevant management objectives (effectiveness), the sharing of costs and benefits (equity) and the generation and sustenance of community, political and financial support towards sound management of natural resources.

Partnerships

Within CEESP, TGER is nurturing a very close cooperation with TILCEPA - mostly about governance type and good governance for protected areas and on Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas (ICCAs); with TCC around the cultural aspects of governance and rights; with SEAPRISE, about promoting and supporting Citizens' Advisory Councils around major development initiatives; and with TSL, on demonstrating mutual support between improved governance of natural resources and enhanced livelihoods. Outside CEESP, the Theme is engaged in learning from field initiatives. 

TGER Members

• TGER members are individuals with concern and expertise on the practice and theory of governance of natural resources, equity, and human rights who agree to engage and collaborate with others towards better understanding and action on these subjects. The members generally offer their contributions on a volunteer basis. They can be compensated for their professional activities if funds are available through specific projects or programmes.
  
• Membership in the TGER is open to memberss of the CEESP Commission.
  
• Membership is by invitation, which is issued by one of the TGER Chairs on behalf of the CEESP Chair, or on the recommendation of experienced TGER members if the work of the candidate is not well known by the Chairs.
  
• The TGER membership is comprised of over 300 members from about 50 countries.
  
• Members may be more or less active depending on individual commitments and opportunities, and can focus their interest in one or more specific sub-topics. 

Specific areas of work and sharing 

Within the broad perspective and scope of the Theme, different members focus on different areas of inquiry and action. These include:

Understanding and improving governance of natural resources

• “good governance” (how can processes of participatory governance evaluation be best facilitated and supported? Can those be a path towards effective and long-lasting governance improvements?
• governance types for protected areas ( recognition , legitimisation and support for a variety of governance types, with emphasis on community conserved areas and co- managed protected areas;
• governance of landscape (What have we learned about the governance of large scale units such as eco-regions including protected areas of variable type and category, Model Forests, Natural Regional Parks and the like?

A rights-based approach to conservation

• promoting a rights based approach to conservation (What is a rights-based approach to conservation? What concrete benefits can be expected from its adoption and implementation? Who will enjoy those benefits? What can TGER/CEESP do to assist the IUCN members and partners in adopting such an approach?
  
• the social impact of conservation (What are the main positive and negative consequences of establishing protected areas? Is there a link between biodiversity conservation and local poverty?
  
• governance and security (Factors determining human and environmental security need to be appreciated as crucial for conservation and sustainable livelihoods, and to be effectively incorporated in the governance of natural resources).
  
• understanding the institutional implication of a rights-based approach and social accountability in conservation (Improved policies and practices need to foster and support the social accountability of conservation agencies, towards a more gender equitable sharing of costs and benefits of conservation)

Strategic approaches

The TGER members pursue their aim by following the strategic CEESP plan developed in 2009, in continuity with previous work of CMWG and TILCEPA and in close collaboration with the other Themes and Working Groups of CEESP. Work strategic directions include:

• field-based, participatory action research : fostering the review and analysis of relevant knowledge and field experience in various regions and ecosystems; at different levels (e.g. local, regional, multi-country); in various societies (e.g. sedentary, mobile/ nomadic, indigenous); under various land-tenure conditions (e.g. protected area, public land, communal, private) and with the full participation of various actors in society (e.g. governments, NGOs, local communities, indigenous peoples, gender and socio-economic groups); this includes developing documentation and exchanging knowledge and experience, as relevant, among the IUCN constituency and partners while fostering active communication among them; flexible methods and tools will be sought in support of improved governance of natural resources, equity and human rights, in particular with a direct link to specific targets of the CBD and other international conventions;

• capacity building : pursuing various avenues to enhance the capacity of the IUCN constituency and partners to understand and effectively engage in support of improved governance of natural resources, equity and human rights, in particular among development and conservation practitioners and civil society at large. Learning by doing will be the avenue of choice, in relevant field sites where initiatives that improve the governance of natural resources at local, national and transboundary level and promote equity and the respect of human rights can be variously encouraged and provided technical support;

• networking : assisting regional networks to identify and evaluate crucial opportunities for change (e.g. in policy) and to develop recommendations appropriate to the circumstances of each region; in particular the regional initiatives and discussion lists will strive to provide a forum where individual members can exchange ideas and experience and support one another technically and politically, as needed, towards improved governance of natural resources, equity and human rights.

• communication: The Urundei Exchange Video Voices Initiative is promoting the use of local video on YouTube and other venues to bring local voices and their biodiversity-related concerns onto the global radar.
   
• policy advocacy : engaging the IUCN constituency and partners in constructive debates about governance of natural resources, equity and human rights and on the (usually multiple) ways in which positive change can be sought, in particular concerning the IUCN and other conservation, development or donor organizations, as well as international agreements and conventions

Structure, Roles and Responsibilities

The TGER structure is sparce, it is comprised of two Co-Chairs (who serve as focal points in the CEESP Executive Committee). The Co-chairs promote and represent the interests and concerns of the TGER in appropriate forums. A part-time TGER Administrator based in Argentina translates Spanish/English for the listserve, deals with membership issues (e.g. new appointments, maintenance of the database), and facilitate and coordinates the collaboration among the members of the Theme and between the members and relevant others. The Co-chairs and Administrator foster collaboration and joint initiatives with other Themes and Working Groups of CEESP with whom they partially overlap in terms of key concerns and work objectives.

The members of TGER are encouraged to lead TGER initiatives on a given topic or region. They take upon themselves to identify and contact the TGER members with relevant concerns (and/or to propose new members with appropriate capacities and concerns) and to collaborate with members and partners- including other IUCN commissions, IUCN member organisations and the IUCN secretariat- to develop specific initiatives. With the help of the CEESP Chair and TGER Co-Chairs and IUCN secretariat, they also seek and obtain the necessary human and financial resources to carry to fruition the said initiatives.

The Chair, and Co-chairs as necessary in consultation with the membership at large- take decisions regarding the TGER life and activities and manage the TGER financial resources.

Communication System

TGER members can utilize various dedicated platforms for internal and external communication.

• Electronic discussion lists : The TGER discussion list (CMWG@indaba.iucn.org or tger@indaba.iucn.org) is open to TGER members only and dedicated to matters of relevance to governance of natural resources, equity and rights. If members wish to discuss matters related to co-management they can sent to either CMWG@indaba.iucn.org or TGER@indaba.iucn.org.

• TheTGER web site is the site you are visiting now. Other sites of relevance are the key topics pages on Shared Governance and on ICCAs 

Publications by TGER Members

The publications by TGER members are many and unfortunately we cannot report about them all as we are not always kept informed. Please view the list below of publications. More publications by TGER members are listed here.