NRGF Knowledge Products
1. The NRGF Core Framework Document
The NRGF Core Framework Document, titled The Natural Resource Governance Framework: Improving Governance for Equitable and Effective Conservation (Springer et al., 2021), sets out the foundational structure of the NRGF. It defines a values–principles–criteria framework that underpins governance assessment and action. Central to the document are ten governance principles grounded in a rights-based approach, emphasizing inclusivity, tenure rights, transparency, and accountability. The framework supports participatory assessment, learning, and adaptation to improve governance processes in conservation. It equips practitioners, communities, and policymakers with tools to diagnose and address governance weaknesses and guide reform. By linking ecological sustainability with social equity, the document helps align conservation initiatives with broader justice and human rights goals. As both a conceptual and practical resource, the framework informs decision-making in diverse governance contexts, promoting effective and equitable conservation practices. The document is publicly accessible via the IUCN Library Portal and the NRGF website.
2. NRGF ROAM Assessment Report
The NRGF ROAM Assessment Report, authored by Campese et al. (2022), evaluates how governance can be better integrated into forest and landscape restoration (FLR) using the IUCN WRI Restoration Opportunities Assessment Methodology (ROAM) guidance. Conducted in Rwanda, Malawi, Colombia, and Indonesia, the assessment examines how governance conditions, such as land tenure, participation, power relations, and benefit sharing, affect restoration outcomes. Its purpose is to ensure that FLR initiatives are not only ecologically sound but also socially just and rights-based. By diagnosing governance gaps, the report supports national efforts to design more inclusive and legitimate restoration strategies. The findings contribute to fulfilling international restoration goals under the Bonn Challenge, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. This report demonstrates that governance is fundamental to the success and sustainability of FLR initiatives, and it provides a roadmap for integrating governance considerations from planning to implementation. It is available on both the IUCN Library Portal and the NRGF website.
3. NRGF Policy Papers Series
The NRGF Policy Papers Series translates the NRGF’s rights-based principles into action by addressing specific governance challenges through applied research. These papers show how NRGF principles can shape real-world policy and practice, offering concrete recommendations for change. For example, the 2025 series includes papers on integrating gender into drought policy in Africa (Mwangi), combining rights-based and transformative learning for pro-environmental behavior (Tening & Nuesiri), enhancing community benefits in transboundary conservation (Nkomo & Nuesiri), and reversing Cameroon’s RED CARD from the European Commission for IUU fishing (Nuesiri et al.). Each contribution draws on field experience and policy analysis to demonstrate how the NRGF fosters inclusive, accountable, and effective governance. These papers serve as practical tools for policymakers, NGOs, and civil society, and help embed the NRGF in broader conservation and development discourse. The full series is available on the NRGF website, supporting the mainstreaming of governance reform in conservation.
4. NRGF Brief Note Series
The NRGF Brief Notes Series provides concise, accessible insights into key NRGF concepts and their relevance to emerging environmental issues. These short publications are designed to introduce the framework to new audiences and to apply its principles to timely challenges, such as climate change and biodiversity governance. They serve as entry points for practitioners, advocates, and policymakers who need quick, digestible guidance. One brief examines how the NRGF supports the Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) within the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, while another critiques global climate responses through the lens of governance, arguing that inclusive and accountable systems could have led to better outcomes. These briefs are especially valuable in fast-moving policy contexts, offering relevant governance insights without overwhelming detail. By distilling complex ideas into actionable takeaways, the series bridges theory and practice, contributing to more informed, just, and effective environmental governance. All briefs are available via the NRGF website.
5. NRGF Conceptual Papers Series
The NRGF Conceptual Papers Series delves into core governance concepts that form the intellectual backbone of the NRGF’s rights-based approach. These papers provide in-depth analysis of systemic challenges such as power imbalances, lack of accountability, and limited access to justice. For example, Access to Justice and the Right to Sustain Nature (Crawhall & Silverman, 2016) explores how legal rights intersect with environmental sustainability. Similarly, Accountability of Powerful Actors (Nuesiri, 2016) examines how institutions and elites can be answerable for environmental and social outcomes. These works clarify key terms, highlight governance pitfalls, and propose reforms grounded in political theory, law, and ethics. While scholarly, the papers are designed to inform practice and policymaking, offering pathways for integrating justice and equity into conservation strategies. They serve as essential reading for those working at the interface of environment, governance, and human rights. The full NRGF Conceptual Papers Series is accessible via the NRGF website.
6. NRGF Scoping Reports Series
The NRGF Scoping Reports Series includes foundational studies that guided the development of the NRGF by exploring regional governance contexts. These reports identify specific challenges, opportunities, and priorities for applying NRGF principles, with special attention to Indigenous rights, legal pluralism, and equity in conservation. A key report, Conservation and Indigenous Peoples in Mesoamerica: A Guide (Indian Law Resource Center & IUCN CEESP, 2015), offers legal and policy recommendations for aligning conservation with international Indigenous rights frameworks, such as the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and ILO Convention 169. These scoping studies map governance trends, diagnose injustices in protected area management, and propose context-specific reforms. By doing so, they laid the groundwork for integrating the NRGF into regional and global conservation efforts. Their insights remain relevant for practitioners and advocates seeking to center justice and equity in environmental governance. All reports are available via the NRGF website.
