1

Dilemmas of the “societal interest”• Normative approaches: societal consensus is based on approved laws,

rules and plans + their ethical content and a rights-based approach:– (1) Substantive (human dignity, equal treatment and property rights) and– (2) Procedural (fairness or due process, sound administration and transparency, and

public participation) aspects• Utilitarianism approaches:

– Aggregating individual preferences and the use of a cost-benefit analysis as an example of welfare economics

• Dialogical approaches:– a result of an interactive process among concerned stakeholders and affected parties

2

Environmental problems as social justice

• Welfare-related incentives vs. norms and values:– Norms rule what solutions are

legitimate– Values influence what resolutions of

environmental conflicts are considered just

• distributive and procedural aspects of environmental justice:– …those whose interests are not

endorsed by a particular environmental decision that their interests can count in other decisions

(Paavola 2007)

Public involvement in decision-making, participatory approaches

Mediation and negotiation for plan/scheme/strategy development

O. Likhacheva, Pskov State UniversityD. Blyshchyk, Odessa State Environmental University

Information and Communication for Natural Resource managementPilot course

Federal Siberian University, 16-22 February 2014

Agroforestry in Haiti (1990s) (1)

• 33% of all land slopes more than 20 %• 1/3 of the country lies above 400 m• 20% of land is considered arable, 50% is under agricultural

production• Forested land dropped from 30% (1940) to 10% (1970) and

1,2-2% (currently)

Agroforestry in Haiti (1990s) (2)

• not-inclusiveness of people affected in the planning process

• Ignoring of traditional knowledge and conservation technologies

Reconstruction of dendropark (2013)

• Natural resource management problems

• complex, • uncertain, • multi-scale, • affect multiple actors • affect multiple agencies

• Demand for decision-making •transparent,• flexible to changing circumstances, • that embraces a diversity of knowledge and values

What does “public participation” mean?

• Participation is a process that facilitates dialogue among all actors, mobilizes and validates popular knowledge and skills, supports communities and their institutions to manage and control resources, and seeks to achieve sustainability, economic equity and social justice while maintaining cultural integrity (Renard, Krishnarayan, 2000)

• Public participation is an “…active involvement of people in making decisions (about the implementation of processes, programmes and projects, etc.) which affect them” (Slocum, Thomas-Slatyer, 1995)

1950s• recognition that the project will fail or reduce

success if all the stakeholders do not participate effectively.

• recognition the need for empowerment of communities so they may participate in decisions which affect them:– All the stakeholders have a right to be involved.

• belief that ordinary people are capable of critical reflection and analysis and their knowledge is relevant and necessary.

• Arnstein (1969):– Citizen Power: Citizen

Control, Delegated Power, Partnership

– Tokenism: Placation, Consultation, Informing.

– Non-participation: Therapy, Manipulation.

Participatory typology

Distinguishing between the degree to which stakeholders are engaged

Lawrence (2006) “transformative” participation

NGO, COSECHA, project sustainability monitoring

(in Guatemala and Honduras)

Wheel of participation (Davidson, 1998)

Public participation spectrumINFORM CONSULT INVOLVE COLLABORATE EMPOWER

Participation goalTo provide the publicwith balanced and objective informationto assist them inunderstanding theproblems, alternatives,opportunities and/orsolutions

To obtain publicfeedback on analysis, alternatives and/ordecisions

To work directly with the public throughoutthe process to ensure that public concerns and aspirations areconsistently understoodand considered

To partner with the public ineach aspect of the decision including the development of alternatives and the identification of the preferred solution

To place final decision makingin the hands of the public

Promise to the public

We will keep youinformed

We will keep you informed, listen to and acknowledgeconcerns andaspirations, provide feedback on how public inputinfluenced thedecision

We will work with you to ensure that your concerns andaspirations are directly reflected in the alternatives developed and provide feedbackon how public input influenced the decision

We will look to you for direct advice and Innovationin formulating solutions and incorporate your advice andrecommendations into the decisions to the maximumextent possible

We will implementwhat you decide

Reasons for participation

• The opportunity to make better decisions• Better public acceptance of and compliance with the

decisions made / creation of social support among stakeholders

• Social justice / increase legitimacy • In addition:– community engagement enables the public to go beyond

participation in a decision to be made by government (increase of participation is a powerful catalyst towards achieving other objectives), to become motivated to support a new perspective or issue and take action themselves

Stakeholder analysis: description of groups

• Sectors (public, private, representing sector of economy)

• Functions (administrator, researcher, local resident, land owner

• Level of actions (national, local, etc.)

• Geography (living in the area, living in the indirectly affected area, not from the area)

• Socio-economic profile (income, age, gender)

• Level of interest/effect (directly affected, indirectly affected)

• Experience of the topic

• Known or likely position (supporting, opposing, in conflict with other groups, etc.)

Components necessary for effective public participation (1)Process issues

• Recognition the importance of participation, • Be inclusive • Valuing the public• Balance out differences in power • Trust among stakeholders• Flexibility and learning by doing• Continuity of resources and efforts• Identifying benefits

Components necessary for effective public participation (2)Structural issues

• Access to trusted data• Timelines• Planning for outreach and education• Knowledge exchange and capacity building• Attracting the right participants• Dealing with personality• The limits of stakeholder representation• The drawbacks of consensus

Thank You for attention!!!