Wasting collaboration potential: A study in urban green space governance in a post-transition country

• Published in: Environmental science & policy 2016-08, Vol.62, p.69-78
• Main Authors: Kronenberg, Jakub, Pietrzyk-Kaszyńska, Agata, Zbieg, Anita, Żak, Błażej
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cross-sectoral collaboration; Governance; NGOs; Post-socialist city; Social network analysis; Urban green infrastructure
• ISSN: 1462-9011; 1873-6416
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envsci.2015.06.018

•Governance in social–ecological systems requires cross-sectoral collaboration.•In Polish cities collaboration potential is used only to a very small extent.•Sector silos as well as formal and informal ties influence collaboration potential.•Strengthening social network ties would elicit different perspectives on ecosystem services. Most accounts of urban green space governance originate in cities where such initiatives have been successful. Meanwhile, there is too little information on cities where such initiatives develop with more difficulty. In order to overcome the problems that such cities face, their situations need to be studied more carefully to facilitate peer comparisons. This article provides an account of urban green space governance in three cities in Poland (Krakow, Lodz, Poznan), where environmental protection is still quite far down on the list of political priorities. With the use of a social network analysis we looked at the extent of relationships between different stakeholders and the roles of different actors within the network. The results indicate that the network's collaboration potential is barely used and that cross-sectoral collaboration is especially deficient. In particular, public institutions hold a relatively strong position and downplay the role of other actors. More collaboration is necessary and the potential bridging role of NGOs should be used to a larger extent. However, this requires more openness and trust within the network.