Colombian biodiversity is governed by a rich and diverse policy mix

Alejandra Echeverri; Paul R Furumo; Sydney Moss; Alan G Figot Kuthy; Daniela García Aguirre; Lisa Mandle; Ivan Darío Valencia; Mary Ruckelshaus; Gretchen C Daily; Eric F Lambin

doi:10.1038/s41559-023-01983-4

Colombian biodiversity is governed by a rich and diverse policy mix

Nat Ecol Evol. 2023 Mar;7(3):382-392. doi: 10.1038/s41559-023-01983-4. Epub 2023 Feb 6.

Authors

Alejandra Echeverri^{1

2

3

4}, Paul R Furumo^{5

6}, Sydney Moss^{7

5

8}, Alan G Figot Kuthy⁹, Daniela García Aguirre¹⁰, Lisa Mandle^{11

12

7

5}, Ivan Darío Valencia¹³, Mary Ruckelshaus^{7

5}, Gretchen C Daily^{11

12

7

5}, Eric F Lambin^{5

6

14}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA. ale.echeverri@stanford.edu.
² Center for Conservation Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA. ale.echeverri@stanford.edu.
³ The Natural Capital Project, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA. ale.echeverri@stanford.edu.
⁴ Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA. ale.echeverri@stanford.edu.
⁵ Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
⁶ Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
⁷ The Natural Capital Project, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
⁸ Blum Center for Developing Economies, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
⁹ Stanford School of Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
¹⁰ AIDA Americas (Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense), Bogotá, Colombia.
¹¹ Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
¹² Center for Conservation Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
¹³ Global Green Growth Institute Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.
¹⁴ Georges Lemaître Earth and Climate Research Centre, Earth, and Life Institute, University of Louvain, Louvain, Belgium.

PMID: 36747078
DOI: 10.1038/s41559-023-01983-4

Abstract

We lack an understanding of how diverse policymakers interact to govern biodiversity. Taking Colombia as a focal case, we examined six decades of biodiversity governance (1959-2018). Here we analysed the composition of the policy mix, and how it has evolved over time, how policies differ among lead actors and ecosystems, and whether the policy mix addresses the primary threats to biodiversity. We identified 186 biodiversity-related policies that govern multiple ecosystems, use different instruments and address the main threats to biodiversity (that is, agriculture and aquaculture, and biological resource use). We found policy gaps in the governance of invasive species and wildlife trade. Biodiversity policy integration into some sectoral policies, such as climate change, poverty and pollution, has become more common in the past decade. Our results point to an increased need for effective coordination across sectors and actors, as new ones influence and implement the policy mix.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aquaculture
Biodiversity*
Colombia
Ecosystem*
Policy