Exploring the Challenge of Financial Sustainability of the Publicly Managed Terrestrial Protected Area Estate in New South Wales, Australia

O'Flynn, Louise

Exploring the Challenge of Financial Sustainability of the Publicly Managed Terrestrial Protected Area Estate in New South Wales, Australia

O'Flynn, Louise

Permalink

Publication Type:: Thesis
Issue Date:: 2023

Open Access

Copyright Clearance Process

Recently Added
In Progress
Open Access

This item is open access.

Adobe PDF

Download thesisAdobe PDF (4.24 MB)

View statistics

Full metadata record

Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	O'Flynn, Louise
dc.date.accessioned	2023-07-12T02:16:08Z
dc.date.available	2023-07-12T02:16:08Z
dc.date.issued	2023
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/171459
dc.description	University of Technology Sydney. Faculty of Business.	en_US.UTF-8
dc.description.abstract	The purpose of this qualitative action research study is to explore the challenge of financial sustainability of the publicly managed terrestrial protected area (PA) estate in New South Wales (NSW) under the care and control of the National Parks and Wildlife Service. It also seeks to understand the feasibility of the impact bond as a finance mechanism to complement existing funding sources for terrestrial PAs. Data sources include interviews with PA specialists and impact investment specialists, secondary data analysis, and the research literature. The mechanics of the thesis follow Coghlan and Brannick (2014)’s action research cycle, comprising a pre-step followed by four basic steps: (1) construction, (2) planning action, (3) taking action, and (4) evaluating action. The thesis is designed to encourage collaboration between the researcher and participants throughout the action research cycle. The thesis reveals eight impediments and 13 enabling conditions regarding the financial sustainability of the publicly managed terrestrial PA estate in NSW. Identifying the impediments helps to understand the current financial situation in NSW, while identifying the enabling conditions assists in visualising what a financially sustainable terrestrial PA estate would look like in NSW. A Theory of Change for the financial sustainability of the PA estate in NSW is developed, distinguishing six interlinked pathways to change: (a) government support; (b) institutional effectiveness; (c) an appropriate business model; (d) strategic planning and innovation; (e) communication and advocacy; and (f) collaboration and partnerships. A red thread that weaves its way through the thesis is the action of diversifying the PA funding portfolio, specifically how the social and environmental impact bonds can help to finance publicly managed terrestrial PAs. The thesis finds that while the impact bond is not a panacea for the funding needs of PAs, it can be a feasible finance option in certain situations. To this end, a feasibility checklist is developed to assist PA practitioners in determining the suitability of the impact bond to their funding needs. The thesis also presents the practice-oriented theory generated through the action research study, which includes a conceptual framework for the financial sustainability of terrestrial PAs. It is intended that the conceptual framework will help practitioners to define and understand the key concepts relevant to PA financial sustainability and to address the challenge of financial sustainability. While the research study has completed the first action research cycle, the recommendations presented offer a framework for the cycles to follow.	en_US.UTF-8
dc.format	Thesis (PhD)
dc.language.iso	en_US	en_US.UTF-8
dc.relation	https://opus.lib.uts.edu.au/bitstream/10453/171459/1/thesis.pdf
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.rights	The author owns the copyright in this thesis including all reproduction and reuse rights for the work. The work may not be altered without the permission of the copyright owner. Attribution is essential when quoting or paraphrasing from this thesis.
dc.rights	© 2023 Louise O'Flynn
dc.rights	au.edu.uts.lib/cph
dc.title	Exploring the Challenge of Financial Sustainability of the Publicly Managed Terrestrial Protected Area Estate in New South Wales, Australia	en_US.UTF-8
dc.type	Thesis
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*

Abstract:

The purpose of this qualitative action research study is to explore the challenge of financial sustainability of the publicly managed terrestrial protected area (PA) estate in New South Wales (NSW) under the care and control of the National Parks and Wildlife Service. It also seeks to understand the feasibility of the impact bond as a finance mechanism to complement existing funding sources for terrestrial PAs. Data sources include interviews with PA specialists and impact investment specialists, secondary data analysis, and the research literature. The mechanics of the thesis follow Coghlan and Brannick (2014)’s action research cycle, comprising a pre-step followed by four basic steps: (1) construction, (2) planning action, (3) taking action, and (4) evaluating action. The thesis is designed to encourage collaboration between the researcher and participants throughout the action research cycle. The thesis reveals eight impediments and 13 enabling conditions regarding the financial sustainability of the publicly managed terrestrial PA estate in NSW. Identifying the impediments helps to understand the current financial situation in NSW, while identifying the enabling conditions assists in visualising what a financially sustainable terrestrial PA estate would look like in NSW. A Theory of Change for the financial sustainability of the PA estate in NSW is developed, distinguishing six interlinked pathways to change: (a) government support; (b) institutional effectiveness; (c) an appropriate business model; (d) strategic planning and innovation; (e) communication and advocacy; and (f) collaboration and partnerships. A red thread that weaves its way through the thesis is the action of diversifying the PA funding portfolio, specifically how the social and environmental impact bonds can help to finance publicly managed terrestrial PAs. The thesis finds that while the impact bond is not a panacea for the funding needs of PAs, it can be a feasible finance option in certain situations. To this end, a feasibility checklist is developed to assist PA practitioners in determining the suitability of the impact bond to their funding needs. The thesis also presents the practice-oriented theory generated through the action research study, which includes a conceptual framework for the financial sustainability of terrestrial PAs. It is intended that the conceptual framework will help practitioners to define and understand the key concepts relevant to PA financial sustainability and to address the challenge of financial sustainability. While the research study has completed the first action research cycle, the recommendations presented offer a framework for the cycles to follow.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/171459