Paper short abstract:

Systematic mapping is used to describe and catalogue evidence related to the governance of ecosystem services and poverty alleviation. The protocol, setting out the rationale for search terms and coding, and preliminary results are presented.

Paper long abstract:

Governance affects the sustainability of natural resources and associated livelihoods and human wellbeing in developing countries. However, the literature relevant to natural resource governance and wellbeing is diffuse in focus and approach, drawing on a range of variables, theories and frameworks, thus making it difficult to tease out commonalities and generalisations across contexts. Systematic mapping, a method used to describe and catalogue the available literature and evidence using systematic and transparent review processes, can bring clarity to this topic. A systematic mapping is being carried out as part of a synthesis project looking at governance research within the Ecosystem Services for Poverty Alleviation (ESPA) programme, which has funded research on the links between ecosystem services and poverty alleviation for a decade. The protocol for the systematic mapping, setting out the rationale for search terms, selection criteria, and coding of the literature is presented along with preliminary results that show trends and gaps in research on natural resource governance and wellbeing.