Title: Adaptive Participation In Watershed Management

Authors: Sharon Chess, Billie Jo Hance, and Ginger Gibson

Summary: Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 55(3): 248-256; 2000
Recommended Audience: Technical consultants, educators, and specialists.
Principal Topic: Getting participation right and getting the right participation for stakeholder involvement in watershed management.

Review: Effective participation has been found to be one of five qualities key to successful watershed initiatives, yet collaboration among the variety of stakeholders often falls short of producing optimum results for managing the watershed. The National Research Council’s framework for integrating science and deliberation is used to consider issues about practice of stakeholder involvement. These issues include the following: selection of the appropriate mix of stakeholders to create representation, use of different forms of participation and different participatory processes over time, use of education to foster participation, appropriately engaging the scientific community, and roles government might play in these processes. Finally, the concept of “adaptive” policy is advocated as one that is designed to test the behavior of the ecosystem as a result of human intervention. The authors conclude the variable tied to participation is as complex as the scientific variables affecting watersheds.

Implications: This paper is useful for those planning for involvement as well as those charged with implementing participation. Researchers of participation will also find the discussion valuable in exploring and determining factors associated with community involvement.


Resource(s): Adaptive Participation in Watershed Management