Governing the governance system

Abstract

Australia and Brazil are megadiverse countries that are committed to operating a natural resource governance system to implement their international commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity. However, both countries are facing severe loss of biodiversity with similar challenges. The overall system of governance demands more attention in order to improve its capacity and this chapter analyses how Australian and Brazilian biodiversity governance systems are working using the lens of meta-governance. The national priorities and complex arrangements regarding habitat protection, invasive species control and surface water management in Australia and rainforest protection in Brazil will be considered. ‘Meta-governance’ can be understood as how a governance system is managed. Based on empirical evidence about meta-governance problems that demonstrate their ineffectiveness, this chapter proposes some realistic recommendations to overcome the gaps identified.