Fish stocks collapse where fisheries are poorly regulated. Protected areas fail if they’re not well-managed and don’t involve the people living in and around them. And infrastructure projects and industrial activity can have disastrous consequences when they don’t take full account of impacts on people and nature.



Often these failures result from deeper underlying problems.



Discrimination, unequal power relationships and lack of transparency exclude many from decision-making. The rights of indigenous peoples, local communities and women often aren’t recognized, particularly around land ownership. And strong legislation is undermined by corruption and weak enforcement.



Decisions made without consultation or serving only a narrow set of interests can lead to conflict, while short-term thinking can lead to high long-term costs.



We must address these issues to reverse nature loss.