Institutional fragmentation in United States protected area agencies and its impact on budget processes
Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting & Financial Management
ISSN: 1096-3367
Article publication date: 11 July 2024
Issue publication date: 7 August 2024
Abstract
Purpose
Protected areas, lands and seas set aside for nature conservation, are the main tool for governments to conserve biodiversity. The complexity of government processes, however, can lead to fragmentation in protected area systems. Institutional fragmentation can preclude central coordination and undermine funding and performance. Here, we examine the impact of institutional fragmentation on budgets for protected area agencies in the United States, an important actor in the global conservation movement.
Design/methodology/approach
This article uses visual text and network analysis with agency budget documents to examine linkages between agencies. These findings are triangulated with semi-structured interviews analyzed with axial coding to develop a framework for the budget process and its outcomes in US protected area agencies.
Findings
The visual text analysis demonstrates varying levels of coordination between agencies. The conceptual framework shows that five factors - mismatches within agencies, the influence of the Presidential administration, the power of Congress as the appropriator of funds, external forces that influence Congress, and a lack of accountability in allocations – lead to institutional fragmentation and “disparate nature enclaves”.
Research limitations/implications
Interview findings are derived from a non-representative population, and thus should not be generalized for all agencies or budget systems.
Practical implications
Understanding the factors influencing agency budget proposals will inform policy to make budgeting more effective for U.S. and other national protected area systems.
Originality/value
Few studies have conducted qualitative analyses of federal agencies and their budgets, particularly for federal protected areas.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to José Maria Cardoso da Silva for comments on an earlier version of the manuscript, and to Cameron Riopelle for assistance with the visual text analysis. This work was funded by the University of Miami and University Corporation for Atmospheric Research. All subjects gave their informed consent for inclusion before participation in the study. This study was approved by the University of Miami IRB (ID 20220191). At the time of publication, LK is an employee of a protected area agency. This research was completed before said employment. The views expressed in this article are the authors’ own and do not reflect the view of affiliated organizations.
Citation
Khmara, L. and Touchton, M. (2024), "Institutional fragmentation in United States protected area agencies and its impact on budget processes", Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting & Financial Management, Vol. 36 No. 4, pp. 490-513. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPBAFM-08-2023-0147
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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