Driving Forces Study On Wetland Protection Institution Change: US Experience And Its Enlightenment To China

The four key elements of public opinion, science, government and law, were selected to construct a theoretical framework that allows for the comparison of wetland conservation policy on a countrywide basis. The framework establishes an empirical "Bamboo Node" model which configuration is based on the development of U.S. wetland protection policies for the past hundred years, including its characteristics, the logic behind the various policies and implementations and current challenges. The model accounts for the driving forces behind the changes in U.S. wetland protection policies and demonstrates the mechanism by which the four key elements interact to protect wetlands. Finally, the changes in China's national wetland protection policies and their current challenges are discussed along with suggestions regarding further development.The first chapter is the introductory and regulates the research boundary and demonstrates the natural science study basis behind the study of wetlands protection institution change. The theoretical framework of this dissertation is produced by selecting and discussing the four key elements via the scientometrical and systematic method and these elements are the pre-requisite of the logic behind this dissertation.The second chapter more thoroughly describes the theoretical framework, which is based on game theory. The author assumes that scientific advancements impact institutional changes and public behavior, which, in turn, changes legislative regulations and optimizes public behavior. Government and legislation adapt to the newer "gaming" relationship leading to system stability. The framework describes the interactive mechanism that exists between the key variables (public opinion, science, government and law).The third and fourth chapters present the "Bamboo Node Model" via studying the rich history of U.S. policy change and the key elements associated with U.S. wetland conservation as well as the historical divisions in policy periods. The interactive mechanism between the four key elements and how they play different roles as source, prerequisite, manager and institutionalization is discussed. For example, public activities are driven by the development of protection policies and influenced by scientific guidance, government supervision and the law. Science offers evidence for the development of other driving forces and slows down development activities. Under the authorized rights and scientific developments, the compensation costs are decreased by the wetlands-protection driven population. Stakeholders are encouraged to move toward "protection-compensation" collaborations. The law standardizes the conduct of other driving forces. The theoretical framework and the empirical model can enrich natural resource and environmental protection studies.The fifth and sixth chapters describe the application of the model to Chinese wetland conservation institution change study. The path of change, analysis of the interaction between the key elements and the divisions between various policy stages are outlined.In conclusion, the sustaining driving force is pro-active public participation in wetland education and protection; the decision pre-requisite for the other driving forces is accurate scientific data; the arrangement of governmental authority affects the effects of the wetlands protection; the law is the key node of wetlands protection institution's sustainable evolvement and it transforms the customs to the system.