A COMMENTARY ON THE ROLE OF INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS IN THE PROTECTION AND RESTORATION OF HABITAT IN THE GREAT-LAKES

The common features of institutional arrangements associated with succ essful restoration and protection projects within the Great Lakes basi n were extensive partnerships and involvement of local interests. We f ound that separation of water quality, water quantity, and resource ma nagement authority often gave rise to conflicting management actions a nd that the fundamental lack of coordination among national, state or provincial, and local government programs contributes to failed instit utional arrangements. Even successful projects require dedicated indiv iduals to find ways of making existing institutional arrangements work . We find that attempts to reorganize government agencies may be less effective than an approach to empowering local interests to plan and i mplement better habitat management projects. Our basic recommendation is to have governments empower and support communities to take respons ibility for the natural environment.