Biodiversity mainstreaming in a changing governance context – a practical perspective on the role of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity

The importance environmental policy integration or the mainstreaming of biodiversity has been recognized since the signing of the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1992 (Article 6(b)). Currently mainstreaming is one of the key objectives of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and features high on the agenda of recent and upcoming Conferences of the Parties. While the mainstreaming literature especially focuses on traditional policy integration carried out by state bureaucracies, mainstreaming actually takes place in a more polycentric governance context where private and other non-state actors take action in collaboration with or outside public institutions. At the same time there is broad recognition that additional biodiversity wins can especially be booked by seeking the contribution of these non-state actors for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. The shift towards a more polycentric governance context has implications for mainstreaming approaches and demands rethinking the role of governments and intergovernmental institutions. Private and non-state actors, show increasing willingness to act on biodiversity related issues and to take biodiversity and natural capital into consideration in their operations. The potential these private and other non-state actors hold for mainstreaming has to be better understood. This ultimately raises the question how governments and intergovernmental institutions can facilitate and tap into this potential. As the idea of mainstreaming biodiversity has been around for a while now, a considerable body of literature has emerged on how and why mainstreaming should be implemented. However, lessons learned from mainstreaming in a polycentric context, both on the practice as well as impacts are still scarce. Also the implications of a polycentric perspective on the role of governments and international organisations, such as the the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, are not fully explored and understood. The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity has longstanding practical experience with facilitating biodiversity mainstreaming especially via the National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs). Although the NBSAPs constitute an opportunity to mainstream biodiversity into national policy, NBSAPs processes are mostly dominated by actors within the biodiversity policy domain. Crucial actors from ministries such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries and the ministries of finance and planning are still involved too little. This all relates very much to the traditional governmental perspective on mainstreaming. This paper provides an inside, practical perspective on how the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity can facilitate private sector engagement for mainstreaming outside the NBSAP process. We reflect on the opportunities and challenges for mainstreaming in a changing governance context. This paper is based on the practical experiences of a 3 month research visit at the Secretariat in Montreal, Canada from April to July 2016 to support the mainstreaming agenda of the Convention on Biological Diversity.