The Emergence of Collective-Action with Adaptive Capacity for Biodiversity Conservation in Protected Areas in Costa Rica.

Using common-pool resources theory we propose several attributes for protected area governance that could influence the emergence of successful collectiveaction with adaptive capacity for biodiversity conservation. Proposed attributes were observed at the Guanacaste Conservation Area (ACG) and absent at other less successful conservation areas. The attributes are (1) a clear and inspiring vision internalized by the staff; (2) practice-based learning opportunities; (3) high organizational "contextuality"; (4) long-term financial and administrative autonomy; and (5) a diversity of cross-scale linkages to access resources. We discuss how these attributes could interact to facilitate adaptive capacity for biodiversity conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]