Environmental resources are increasingly coming under pressure from various facets of development including both institutional as well as non-institutional mechanisms. It aims to ensure that the long term sustenance of environmental resources does not get hampered therefore assuming greater importance. In this context, improving the governance process of development is considered as a means of improving performance on the above. This can primarily emanate from the setting up of new institutions, strengthening of existing institutions, providing a policy framework and undertaking the initiatives that lead to the conservation of environment and its resources. This paper discusses the concepts of governance and good governance in relation to environmental management first; it then provides an overview of select environmental governance measures undertaken by government departments in a catalogued manner. It discusses the initiatives under the broad categories of commitments to global treaties, transparency and accountability, sensitive ecosystems, conservation projects, water resource management, research, education and training capacity building. It thereby provides an abstract state of environmental governance, which needs to be developed much deeper by incorporating further details and making refi nements.
Governance, environmental management, decision-making, institutions
