Functions and dimensions of pluralism in transformative governance for biodiversity: a review

Biodiversity governance has thus far failed to foster the transformative changes needed to address the biodiversity crisis. Instead, it has often reinforced dominant paradigms that have contributed to the crisis. Research underscores the importance of adopting the guiding principle of ‘pluralism’ in governance to become more effective at driving transformative changes. However, the field of transformative governance currently lacks a guiding definition and framework to approach pluralism. This review offers a definition of pluralism that emphasizes that pluralism in governance means recognizing and legitimizing diverse ways of being, knowing, perceiving and relating to the world in decision-making and collective action. It introduces a guiding framework with four relevant dimensions of plurality – ontological, epistemic, normative and directional. These four dimensions, respectively, reflect diverse human–nature relations, knowledge systems, value orientations and future imaginaries in transformative biodiversity governance. Additionally, the review identifies four functions pluralism can serve when adopted and implemented in transformative governance: disrupting business-as-usual, empowering marginalized actors, co-creating novel strategies and solutions, and enhancing capacities to deal with complexity and uncertainty. The review argues that substantial transformations of governance structures are necessary to drive transformative changes, both changes in governance design and processes to align with the guiding principle of pluralism and changes that go beyond pluralism.