A multilevel analytical framework for more-effective governance in human-natural systems: A case study of marine protected areas in Vietnam

• We review governance and institutional theories and concepts to form an analytical framework.
• A list of principles is developed for the application of the framework in study areas in Vietnam.
• Formal institutions, political behaviour and local communities' characteristics are major divers.
• An interactive governance diagram developed demonstrates joint influences of the drivers.
• Adaptive and regularly-amended institutions helps enhance environmental governance.

Marine protected areas (MPAs) can be viewed as coupled human-natural systems where a significant number of local people depend on ecosystem goods and services. There are times when these uses contribute to ecosystem degradation that may eventually lead to a systems' collapse. In addition to studies of technical means for predicting and controlling the systems, the understanding of human dimensions, institutional and social-interaction issues has been considered important for improving effective governance of these systems. This paper presents a multilevel analytical framework and discusses application of this framework to the context of three MPAs in Vietnam. It discusses the development of the framework based on a new perspective that views institutions as a structure and governance as a process for operating a governing system. As a result, inter-relations and mutual influences of institutions and governance occurred within the MPAs are illustrated as a cause–effect relationship diagram. These are grouped into three components (i) formal institutions; (ii) political behaviour and organizational structure; and (iii) local communities' engagement, social capital and socio-economic conditions. These components interact with each other and influence the interplays of actors, both state and non-state, for MPA governance. Findings from this study suggest that institutions should be adaptive and regularly amended based on their performance in real-world governance processes. This ensures the match between the approved institutions and their practical effects in complex contextual conditions. Meanwhile, there should be accountable and transparent dialogues and mechanisms for all the stakeholders and actors to be actively involved in the development of institutions, and evaluating and monitoring governance processes. Bridging actors or organizations also need to be available as active facilitators of these dialogues and mechanisms. When the institutional and social-interaction issues are solved, governance of coupled human-natural systems, such as MPAs, will be enhanced.