Analyzing Multilevel Governance In Mexico

Who makes land use decisions, how are decisions made, and who influences whom, how and why? This working paper is part of a series based on research studying multilevel decision-making institutions and processes. The series is aimed at providing insight i

Part of the International Library of Policy Analysis series, this book provides the first detailed examination of the practice of policy analysis in Mexico. Whilst shaped by the legacy of the Mexican state’s colonial history as well as by recent social, economic and political developments, the study of policy analysis within Mexico provides important comparative lessons for other countries. Contributors study the nature of policy analysis at different sectors and levels of government as well as by non-governmental actors, such as unions, business, NGOs and the media, promoting the use of evidence-based policy analysis, leading to better policy results. The book is a vital resource for academics and students of policy studies, public management, political science and comparative policy studies.

Key messages REDD+ is an inherently multilevel process that requires attention across diverse levels and sectors of governance to bring about change on the ground.REDD+ strategies often focus on direct drivers of deforestatio

Key messages In Mexico, land-use policy is fraught with centralizing tendencies, and different sectors often have incompatible (rural) development agendas. This inhibits successful innovation and a 'made to fit' territorial approach to low emissions development.Although formally REDD+ is advancing, in practice there exist doubts, tensions and competing visions regarding implementation. The designation of a forestry agency without the rank of ministry — CONAFOR — for the implementation of REDD+ has challenged the socialization of the REDD+ message throughout other sectors.CONAFOR's special programs in REDD+ early action areas revealed a forest-centered, conservationist approach rather than the sustainable management goals and low emissions development expressed in Mexico's policy documents (including the National REDD+ Strategy).Civil society has been active in supporting and strengthening environmental policy in the context of REDD+. However, there are concerns that many nongovernmental organizations do not actually represent rural inhabitants and forest owners, while grassroots productive organizations have largely been left out of the debate.

Since 2009, CIFOR has conducted a multi-donor funded Global Comparative Study on REDD+ (GCS-REDD+) in 10 countries (Indonesia, Brazil, Bolivia, Cameroon, Peru, Tanzania, Vietnam, DR Congo, Nepal and Mexico). The project began as a four-year global research study on first-generation REDD+ demonstration and readiness activities and has since expanded to address a number of related topics, including multilevel governance in REDD+ benefit sharing and land use decisions. REDD+ is a multilevel process, and issues of scale, power and politics apply to both land use decisions and the institutions set up as part of REDD+ and other initiatives aimed at improving landscape governance. The nature and extent of multilevel communication and coordination influence the legitimacy of the institutions and processes established. It is thus necessary to analyze the political and economic challenges and opportunities behind technical processes such as Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) systems. This occasional paper focuses on Mexico’s approach to REDD+ MRV and the interplay between national and state levels. It aims to increase understanding about the interests and levels of understanding of the different actors involved in REDD+ MRV, why their visions vary, how coordination functions across actors and scales and the underlying factors that affect it. The paper identifies challenges and opportunities and provides insights on how the process can be improved to create a multilevel REDD+ MRV system that responds to the different needs and interests of national, state and local actors. The lessons from Mexico are also relevant for other countries engaged in this process.

Who makes land use decisions, how are decisions made, and who influences whom, how and why? This working paper is part of a series based on research studying multilevel decision-making institutions and processes. The series is aimed at providing insight into why efforts to keep forests standing, such as initiatives like Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+), are still so far from altering development trajectories. It underlines the importance of understanding the politics of multilevel governance in forest, land and climate policy and practice, and identifies potential ways forward.

This groundbreaking book collects contributions from many of the world's leading climate and energy law scholars and provides the first major study of national Climate Change Acts. This cutting-edge type of legislation originated with the first Climate Change Act framework which was passed in the United Kingdom in 2008, and is intended to enable the law to grapple effectively with one of the great problems of our times, anthropogenic climate change. Since 2008, national framework climate legislation has been slowly but steadily emerging in countries across the world. This trailblazing collection employs a comparative analytical legal methodology and offers the first comprehensive study of this new, innovative form of legislative regime. In addition to containing broad internationalist chapters, deep-dive national case study chapters are included that focus on individual countries and provide analytical depth. A final chapter draws together the threads of the book's foregoing contributions to deduce generalisable conceptual insights based on current knowledge and experience. Uniquely, the book provides a conceptual model for Climate Change Acts that can usefully inform the development of national framework climate legislation in all countries.