Improving institutional framework and organizational solutions for climate change governance in forestry and related sectors at regional and local levels in Serbia

Mirjana STANIŠIĆ; Dragan NONIĆ; Zoran PODUŠKA; Jelena NEDELJKOVIĆ

doi:10.15835/nbha53114201

Authors

Mirjana STANIŠIĆ Maastricht University, Maastricht School of Management, Tapijnkazerne 11, 6211 ME Maastricht (NL)
Dragan NONIĆ University of Belgrade, Faculty of Forestry, Kneza Višeslava 1, 11030 Belgrade (RS)
Zoran PODUŠKA Institute of Forestry, Kneza Višeslava 3, 11030 Belgrade (RS)
Jelena NEDELJKOVIĆ University of Belgrade, Faculty of Forestry, Kneza Višeslava 1, 11030 Belgrade (RS)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15835/nbha53114201

Keywords:

bridging organization, climate change, forestry, governance, institutional framework

Abstract

The implementation of climate change governance strategies at regional and local levels encounters significant challenges, including a complex institutional framework, insufficient competence and limited commitment from various stakeholders to adopt appropriate governance measures. In Serbia, the institutional framework for climate change governance in forestry and related sectors (nature conservation, environment, energy) fails to provide sufficient conditions for stakeholders’ involvement in decision-making processes at regional and local levels. This research aims to examine possibilities for improving the institutional framework and organizational solutions for climate change governance at regional and local level in forestry and related sectors in Serbia. Data were collected through interviews with decision-makers and experts from the public and civil sectors in forestry and related sectors, as well as with representatives of examples of good practices of stakeholder collaboration in climate change governance. Respondents emphasized the need to prioritize climate change as a main objective within the mandates of organizations at lower governance levels in forestry and related sectors. All respondents support the proposal to establish a regional bridging organization to facilitate stakeholders’ coordination. Such an organization would serve as a platform for continuous education, training and knowledge exchange through seminars and workshops and would assist stakeholders in defining and implementing climate change governance measures at regional and local levels.

References

Abrudan IV, Marinescu V, Ionescu O, Ioras F, Horodnic SA, Sestras RE (2009). Developments in the Romanian forestry and its linkages with other sectors. Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca 37(2):14-21. https://doi.org/10.15835/nbha3723468

Babiak K, Thibault L (2009). Challenges in multiple cross-sector partnerships. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly 38(1):117-143. https://doi-org.mu.idm.oclc.org/10.1177/0899764008316054

Bache I, Flinders M (2005). Multilevel governance. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Barudanović S, Avdibegović M, Mataruga M, Milićević M, Škrijelj R, Bećirović Dž, … Đurić G (2024): Assessment of the State of Nature and Governance of Natural Resources in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Summary for policy makers. University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina pp 1-74. https://ebooks.unsa.ba/index.php/ebooks/catalog/view/59/57/95

Bauriedl S (2011). Adaptive capacities of European city regions in climate change: on the importance of governance innovations for regional climate policies. In Leal Filho W (Ed). The economic, social and political elements of climate change. Springer, Heidelberg, Germany pp 3-14.

Božanić D, Kukolj S, Popović M (2024). Analiza Zakona o klimatskim promenama - Treća godina sprovođenja Zakona o klimatskim promenama u Republici Srbiji. [Analysis of the Law on Climate change – Third year of implementation of Law on clmate change in Republic of Serbia]. Regulatorni institut za obnovljivu energiju i životnu sredinu. ISBN 978-86-81830-08-6.

Braunschweiger D (2022). Cross-scale collaboration for adaptation to climate change: a two-mode network analysis of bridging actors in Switzerland. Regional Environmental Change 22(4):110-125. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-022-01958-4

Cooper L, MacFarlane D (2023): Climate-Smart Forestry: Promise and risks for forests, society, and climate. PLoS Climate 2(6):e0000212. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000305

Dannevig H, Aall C (2015). The regional level as boundary organization? An analysis of climate change adaptation governance in Norway. Environmental Science and Policy 54:168-175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2015.07.001

Drucker PF (2006). The Practice of Management. HarperCollins (reissue edition), New York.

Dubrovačko-neretvanska županija (2022): Website page Dubrovačko-neretvanska županija Retrieved 2024 October 7 from: http://www.edubrovnik.org/en/

Đurić G, Avdibegović M, Bajramović Z, Ballian D, Banda A, Barudanović S, … Vila M (2024): Opcije upravljanja i institucionalni aranžmani za donošenje odluka [Governance options and institutional arrangements for decision making process]. In: Barudanović S, Avdibegović M, Mataruga M, Milićević M, Škrijelj R, Bećirović Dž, Ballian D, Dekić R, Lubarda B, Kobajica S, Jurković J, Trbić G, Husika A, Đurić (Eds). Procjena stanja prirode i upravljanja prirodnim resursima u Bosni i Hercegovini. University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina pp 1-74.

Ecological Restoration Institute (2008). Issues in Forest Restoration: What to Expect from Collaboration in Natural Resource Management: A Research Synthesis for Practitioners., Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff. Retrieved 2024 September 25 from: http://www.eri.nau.edu

EFI (2011). Private forest owners in the Western Balkans – Ready for the formation of interest associations. EFI Research Report 25. Euroepan Forest Institute retrieved 2024 October 1 from: https://www.efi.int

FAO (2019): Organizational development of forestry institutions, FAO, Rome. Retrieved 2024 June 17th from: www.fao.org/forestry/institutions/en/

Gadani G, Galarraga I, Sainz de Murieta E (2020): Regional climate change policies: an analysis of commitments, policy instruments and targets. In: SEEDS Working Paper Series 05/2020. Sustainability Environmental Economics and Dynamics Studies, Ferrara, Italy pp 1-30.

Graham A, Mitchell CL (2016). The role of boundary organizations in climate change adaptation from the perspective of municipal practitioners. Climatic Change 139(3-4):381-395. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-016-1829-6

Hay C (2004): Common trajectories, variable paces, divergent outcomes? Models of European capitalism under conditions of complex interdependence. Review of International Political Economy 11(2):231-262. https://doi.org/10.1080/09692290410001672796

Hoppe R, Wesselink A, Cairns R (2017): Lost in the problem: the role of boundary organisations in the governance of climate change. WIRE Climate Change 8:1-23. https://doi.org/10.1002/wcc.225

Hrvatske šume (2022): Website page Hrvatske šume Retrieved 2024 October 7 from: https://www.hrsume.hr/index.php/hr/

Hossain F, Momtaz S, Chalmers A (2022): Community perceptions of climate change governance practices: A case study of Hatiya Subdistrict, Bangladesh. In: Madhanagopal D, Momtaz S (Eds). Climate Change and Risk in South and Southeast Asia - Sociopolitical Perspectives, Routledge, London pp 59-83.

Jänicke M (2017): The Multi-level System of Global Climate Governance – the Model and its Current State. Environmental Policy and Governance 27(2):108-121. https://doi.org/10.1002/eet.1747

Jones C, Hesterly WS, Borgatti SP (1997). A general theory of network governance: Exchange conditions and social mechanisms. The Academy of Management Review 22: 911-945. https://doi.org/10.2307/259249

Kristianssen AC, Granberg M (2021). Transforming local climate adaptation organization: barriers and progress in 13 Swedish municipalities. Climate 9(4):52. https://doi.org/10.3390/cli9040052

Lange P, Driessen PPJ, Sauer A, Bornemann B, Burger P (2013): Governing towards sustainability conceptualizing modes of governance. Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning 15:403-425. https://doi.org/10.1080/1523908X.2013.769414

Louman B, Keenan R.J, Kleinschmit D, Atmadja S, Sitoe AA, Nhantumbo I, Velozo R de C, Morales JP (2019). SDG 13: climate action – impacts on forests and people. In: Pierce Colfer CJ, Winkel G, Galloway G, Pacheco P, Katila P, de Jong W (Eds). Sustainable Development Goals: Their Impacts on Forests and People. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge pp 419-444.

Mees H, Tijhuisb N, Dieperinka C. (2018): The effectiveness of communicative tools in addressing barriers to municipal climate change adaptation: lessons from the Netherlands. Climate Policy 18(10):1313-1326. https://doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2018.1434477

Meiklejohn D, Moloney S, Bekessy S (2021). Applying a practice lens to local government climate change governance: rethinking community engagement practices. Sustainability (Switzerland) 13(2):1-17. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13020995

Mendonça A, Leal Filho W, Alves F (2023): Public participation and climate change governance: Between political approach and local actors’ perspective in two Macaronesian territories. Frontiers in Environmental Science 11:1094178. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1094178

Mwangi E, Wardell A (2012): Multi-level governance of forest resources. International Journal of the Commons 6(2):79-103. https://doi.org/10.18352/bmgn-lchr.374

Nagel M., Kammerer M (2023): Tackling climate change on the local level: A growing research agenda, Review of Policy Research 40(6):846-852. https://doi.org/10.1111/ropr.12577

Nedeljković J., Stanišić M., Nonić D., Avdibegović M., Curman M., Pezdevšek Malovrh Š. (2019). Upravljanje klimatskim promjenama u šumarstvu i zaštiti prirode: institucionalni okviri u odabranim zemljama jugoistočne Europe [Climate change governance in forestry and nature conservation: institutional framework in selected countries of Southeast Europe], Šumarski list 9-10:445-459. https://doi.org/10.31298/sl.143.9-10.6

Nedeljković J, Stanišić M (2020). Forest and climate change governance. In: Leal Filho W, Azeiteiro U, Azul A, Brandli L, Özuyar P, Wall T (Eds). Climate Action. Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Springer Nature Switzerland AG pp 508-528.

Nonić D, Stanišić M, Nedeljković J, Ranković N (2017). Cooperation in the climate change mitigation in forestry and nature protection in different levels of governance. Glasnik Šumarskog fakulteta 2017(116):99-140. https://doi.org/10.2298/GSF1716099N

Nonić D, Nedeljković J, Stanišić M, Ranković N (2020). Institucionalni okviri za upravljanje klimatskim promenama u šumarstvu i zaštiti prirode. U: Zlatić M (Ed). Socio ekonomski aspekti klimatskih promena”. [Institutional framework for climate change governance in forestry and nature conservation. In: Zlatic M (Ed). Socio Economical aspects of climate change]. Šumarski fakultet, Univerzitet u Beogradu, Beograd pp 313-346.

Ørsted Nielsen H (2022). Climate change and sustainable development governance. In: Russel D, Kirsop-Taylor N (Eds). Handbook on the Governance of Sustainable Development, Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham, United Kingdom pp 30-47.

Peters BG, Pierre P (2001). Developments in intergovernmental relations: towards multi- level governance. Policy and Politics 29:131-135. https://doi.org/10.1332/0305573012501251

Pezdevšek Malovrh Š, Paletto A, Posavec S, Dobšinská Z, Đorđević I, Marić B, Avdibegović M, Kitchoukov E, Stijović A, Trajkov P, Laktić T (2019). Evaluation of the operational environment factors of nature conservation policy implementation: Cases of selected EU and non-EU countries. Forests 10:1-24. https://doi.org/10.3390/f10121099

Poteete AR, Ribot JC (2011): Repertoires of domination: Decentralization as process in Botswana and Senegal. World Development 39(3):439-449. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2010.09.013

Rakić Žarković J., Stanković D., Bandović I, Đukić M (2016): Implementacija naučnih rezultata u oblasti društvenih nauka u procesima kreiranja javnih politika u Srbiji. [Implementation of scientific results in social science in processess of creation of public policies in Serbia]. Studija, Institut ekonomskih nauka Beograd.

Ranković N, Stanišić M, Nedeljković J, Nonić D (2016). Strategic and legal framework in forestry and related sectors: Climate change mitigation in European Union and Serbia, Glasnik Šumarskog fakulteta 113:99-132. https://doi.org/10.2298/GSF1613099R

Santos FD, Ferreira PL, Pedersen JST (2022): The climate change challenge: A review of the barriers and solutions to deliver a Paris solution. Climate 10(5):75. https://doi.org/10.3390/cli10050075

Stanišić M., Nedeljković J. (2020): Regulatory framework of forestry for climate change mitigation and adaption. In: Leal Filho W, Azeiteiro U, Azul A, Brandli L, Özuyar P, Wall T (Eds). Climate Action. Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Springer Nature Switzerland AG, Cham pp 751-763.

Stanišić M, Lovrić M, Nedeljković J, Nonić D, Pezdevšek Malovrh Š (2021): Climate Change governance in forestry and nature conservation in selected forest regions in Serbia: Stakeholders classification and collaboration. Forests 12(709):1-32. https://doi.org/10.3390/f12060709

Stanišić M, Nedeljković J, Nonić D (2022). Climate change governance in forestry and related sectors: respondents’ attitudes in selected forest regions and national parks in Serbia. Glasnik Šumarskog fakulteta, Belgrade 125:103-140. https://doi.org./10.2298/GSF2225103S

Stanišić M (2023). Organization of the support and collaboration system for multilevel climate change governance in forestry and related sectors. PhD thesis, Forestry Faculty, University of Belgrade.

Stehle F (2021). Governing Climate Change: Polycentricity in Action?. Global Environmental Politics 21(1):157-159). https://doi.org/10.1162/glep_r_00596

Stevanov M, Krott M, Curman M, Krajer Ostoić S, Stojanovski V (2018). The (new) role of public forest administration in Western Balkans: examples from Serbia, Croatia, FYR Macedonia and Republika Srpska. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 48(8):898-912. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfr-2017-0395

Stewart J, Tyler ME (2019). Bridging organizations and strategic bridging functions in environmental governance and management. International Journal of Water Resources Development 35:71-94. https://doi.org/10.1080/07900627.2017.1389697

Stoddart M, Yang Y (2023): What are the roles of regional and local climate governance discourse and actors? Mediated climate change policy networks in Atlantic Canada, Review of Policy Research 40(6):1144-1168. https://doi.org/10.1111/ropr.12510

Zhang L, Bai E (2023): The regime complexes for global climate governance. Sustainability 15(11):9077. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15119077

Živojinović I, Rogelja T, Weiss G, Ludvig A, Secco L (2023): Institutional structures impeding forest-based social innovation in Serbia and Slovenia, Forest Policy and Economics 151:102941. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2023.102971