Dilemmas of the “societal interest”

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)

3. Public involvement in decision-making, participatory approachesMediation and negotiation for plan/scheme/strategy development O. Likhacheva,Pskov State University D. Blyshchyk, Odessa State Environmental University Information and Communication for Natural Resource management Pilot course Federal Siberian University, 16-22 February 2014

4. 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)

5. Agroforestry in Haiti (1990s) (2) • not-inclusiveness of people affected in the planning process • Ignoring of traditional knowledge and conservation technologies

6. Reconstruction of dendropark (2013)

7. complex, uncertain, multi-scale, affect multiple actors affect multiple agencies • Natural resource management problems • Demand for decision-making • transparent, • flexible to changing circumstances, • that embraces a diversity of knowledge and values

8. What does “public participation” mean? • Participationis 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)

9. 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.

10. Participatory typology Distinguishing between the degree to which stakeholders are engaged Lawrence (2006) “transformative” participation • Arnstein (1969): • Citizen Power: Citizen Control, Delegated Power, Partnership • Tokenism: Placation, Consultation, Informing. • Non-participation: Therapy, Manipulation.

11. NGO, COSECHA, project sustainability monitoring (in Guatemala and Honduras)

12. Wheel of participation (Davidson, 1998)

13. Public participation spectrum

14. 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

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

16. 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

17. 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

18. Thank You for attention!!!