Between autonomy and embeddedness: project interfaces and institutional change in environmental governance

Figures & data

Figure 1. Central aspects of interfaces in two types of projectified governance models.

Table 1. Estonian LIFE projects under investigation, their interfaces, and institutional change.

Project title and description	Organizations in TO & Steering Group	Interfaces in design phase regarding aims and expectations	Interfaces in implementation phase regarding resources and engagement	Interfaces in concluding phase regarding institutional change
1. Flying Squirrel LIFE: Cooperation for improving the conservation of the Flying squirrel in Europe	Project group: NGO Estonian Fund for Nature; State Forest Management; Environmental Board; NGO Private Forest Owners Union; LTD Forest Management Bureau Steering group: Same as in TO	High PO influence on defining aims and expectations: ministry opposes more ambitious proposals for land purchases and artificial reproduction during 4 years of negotiations. NGOs role in project marginalized.	Low PO engagement due to value conflicts between partners (logging vs environment) and low interest from leadership of POs in alternative forestry techniques.	Project developed new methods of jointly planning of private and public lands methods that were largely rejected by the POs but found limited use by private land owners and the commercial actor involved.
2. EstBatLife: Improving the Pond Bat (Myotis dasycneme) habitats in Estonia	Project group: NGO Estonian Fund for Nature; State Forest Management; Environmental Board; Environmental Agency; Estonian Nature Museum; LTD Elustik; NGO Sicista Steering group: Same as in TO + Ministry of Environment; Environmental Inspectorate; Heritage Board; Environmental Investment Center; 4 local governments;	Balanced influence on aims and activities by POs and TO: ministry supports initiative by TO after increased media pressure on engaging declining bat population.	High engagement by POs: state agencies involved personally and financially in research and management of habitats, strong links with other projects.	New information on species received by state agencies; new management practices for hibernation site protection applied by local and state actors; horizontal knowledge sharing with other projects.
3. Life Mires Estonia: Conservation and restoration of Mire Habitats	Project group: NGO Estonian Fund for Nature; LTD Archeovision; University of Tartu Steering group: Same as in TO + Ministry of Environment; Environmental Board; State Forest Management; University of Life Sciences; Estonian Nature Museum; Museum of Archeology;	Balanced influence on aims and activities by POs and TO: ministry has strong incentive to participate because they lag behind EU requirements on emission reduction.	High engagement by POs: state agencies support and engagement in activities partly due to good personal contacts, some activities limited due to commercial interests and low landowner engagement; strong links to universities and other projects.	New mire restoration techniques implemented by agencies; small influence on increasing total area of mire restauration; horizontal knowledge sharing with other projects; very strong science output through universities.
4. NaturallyEst Life: Piloting Natura2000 communication in Estonia	Project group: NGO Estonian Fund for Nature; NGO Estonian Environmental Law Center; University of Tartu; LTD Looduskiri Steering group: Same as in TO + Ministry of Environment; Ministry of Economic Affairs; Ministry of Rural Affairs; Environmental Board; Environmental Agency; Environmental Inspectorate; Environmental Investment Center; University of Tartu NGO Estonian Nature Researchers;	High TO influence on aims due to the lack of need for ‘letter of agreement’. Therefore, Ministry officially not supporting but its employees are interested in participating and results because this helps them in their daily communication activities;	Moderate PO engagement: state agencies involved and interested in new communication skills but lack of commitment by top management.	New communication practices and discourse change for public sector employees but results with limited effect and duration because not incorporated into official guidelines.
5. Life to Alvars: Restoration of Estonian alvar grasslands	Project group: Environmental Board; NGO Association for Protecting Semi-Natural Habitats; University of Tartu University of Life Sciences; Steering group: Same as in TO + Ministry of Environment; Environmental Inspectorate; State Forest Management NGO Sarve Aksli; 3 local governments; 2 businesses;	Balanced influence on aims and activities by POs and TO Ministry, other state agencies and commercial actors interested in results that would help to increase restauration efficiency	High PO-s engagement: state agencies and commercial actors share additional resources; strong links to other projects; strong links to universities;	New meadow restoration policies and techniques introduced by state agencies, commercial actors; engagement of private owners; horizontal knowledge sharing with other projects; very strong science output on species and restoration through universities.
6. FFPE: Raising awareness for forest fires and training of forest fire agents and volunteers in Estonia	Project group: Private Forest Foundation; Rescue Board Steering group: Same as in TO + Environmental Board; Environmental Inspectorate; NGO Private Forest Owners Union	Balanced influence on aims and activities by POs and TO: Rescue Board strongly involved and in control of aims of project;	High PO engagement in activities: project coordinates information sharing among state agencies regarding forest fire prevention;	New information on water reservoirs received by state agencies; new methods for forest fire reporting implemented by state agencies;
7. Life UrbanStorm: Development of sustainable and climate resilient urban storm water management systems for Nordic municipalities	Project group: Viimsi local government; Tallinn local government; NGO Baltic Environmental Forum; University of Life Sciences Steering group: Same as in TO + Ministry of Environment; University of Life Sciences;	High TO influence on aims: general support by ministry and city government with little involvement;	Uneven PO engagement: one local (city district) government with ample resources engaged, lacking high-level engagement of major city government	New information and techniques on drainage technology used by leading city district government; questionable institutional effect in the local government through informal management guidelines and input into climate adaptation plans
8. BaltInfoHaz: Baltic Info Campaign on Hazardous Substances	Project group: NGO Baltic Environmental Forum; NGO Women in Europe for a Common Future; Liepa University; Tallinn University; LTD Rautakesko; LTD VFS Films; Steering group: Same as in TO + Ministry of Social Affairs	Balanced influence on aims and activities by POs and TO: Ministry supports and is interested in results;	Uneven PO engagement: ministry engaged in management, moderate engagement by commercial actors and consumers (information campaign); good links with universities	New policies about hazardous materials introduced by ministry; Limited and short-term changes with commercial actors; strong science output about hazardous materials through universities
9. OSAMAT: Management of environmentaly sound recycling of oil-shale ashes into road construction products. Demonstration in Estonia	Project group: LTD Estonian Energy; LTD Nordecon; Steering group: Same as in TO + Ministry of Environment; Roads Authority;	High TO influence on aims: project lead by commercial actor who is interested in waste material recycling;	Low PO engagement: agencies support formally but lack hands-on commitment and interest; participation not consistent	New policy for using ashes under certain circumstances in road construction, wider use requires further studies

Figure 2. Dynamics of interfaces across project phases in selected projects.