Title: Innovations in Public Participation and Environmental Decision Making: Examples from the Great Lakes Region

Authors: David M. Konisky and Thomas C. Beierle

Summary: Society and Natural Resources, 14: 815-826; 2001
Recommended Audience: Public policy officials, land use planners, watershed managers, natural resources professionals.
Principal Topic: Innovative public participatory processes in environmental decision-making.

Review: Public participation has become a standard component of environmental decision-making processes. This article describes a set of “innovative” participatory processes-study circles, citizens’ juries, round tables, and collaborative watershed management- and considers their relative strengths and weaknesses using a common comparative framework. This article suggests that these participatory processes may be effective if applied strategically and in combination with other innovative or traditional processes.

Implications: The paper may be useful to public policy officials, land use planners, and watershed professionals involving public participatory processes in environmental decision-making activities. Innovative public participatory processes can be a tool for use in environmental decision-making but may need to be used in combination with other traditional processes.

Resource(s): Innovations in Public Participation