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Chapter Summary
In this chapter the various processes and methods that relate to resource and environmental management are considered. Collaboration and coordination may be achieved through stakeholder and participatory approaches and by continuously seeking to enhance communication among participants. It is important to appreciate that not all stakeholders are enthusiastic about participatory approaches, which has led to the emergence of strategic lawsuits/litigation against public participation, or SLAPPs. This chapter examines alternative approaches for facilitating participation and communication. The need for effective communication of science and local knowledge is emphasized to ensure effectiveness. Best practice increasingly includes adaptive management, impact and risk assessment, and dispute resolution, all of which are discussed as ways to manage the existence of change, complexity, uncertainty, and conflict in resource and environmental management. The Alberta oil sands are used as an example of conflict related to resource management, highlighting different multi-stakeholder consultation processes and approaches to handling disputes. This chapter concludes with a discussion of regional and land use planning as a way to enhance credibility of strategies, programs, and plans.
Learning Objectives
After reading this chapter, you should be able to do the following:
- Identify and describe the strengths and limitations of the key methods and processes related to resource and environmental management
- Differentiate the concepts of collaboration and coordination
- Explain the benefits and limitations of participatory approaches
- Describe the implications of SLAPPs (strategic lawsuits against public participation)
- Outline the obstacles inhibiting communication of scientific results and conclusions to policy-makers and the lay public
- Describe the concept of adaptive co-management
- Explain the connection between risk and impact assessment
- Describe the roles of strategic environmental assessment and sustainability assessment
- Identify alternative approaches to resolving conflicts
- Explain the relationship between regional and land-use planning and resource and environmental management
- Describe implementation barriers that must be overcome