Sustainable forest management using decision theaters : rethinking participatory planning

Involving stakeholders in the decision-making process can be very complex and time consuming. Decision theater (DT), which enables the combination of visualization and decision modeling capabilities together with human capacity of insight and interaction, is proposed for addressing this challenging problem in the forest sector. A generic framework for designing DTs to support participatory planning in the forest sector is proposed. To enable DT implementation and support decision-making in the DT in the province of Québec, Canada, the conceptual design of a decision-support system called Forest Community-DSS (FC-DSS) has been developed. Implementing FC-DSS along with other technologies in a DT environment can contribute to engage the stakeholders in the decision-making process by increasing participation frequency, collecting more inputs from the stakeholders, supporting the development and evaluation of alternative options and the selection of preferred alternatives. A DT-based collaboration approach would contribute to address the multiple issues of the stakeholders involved in participatory planning in Québec. Other Canadian provinces and other countries facing similar issues can benefit from the proposed approach

Why Consultations? The public participation in water management and local spatial planning in two Polish cases

Despite many novelties in participation: participatory budgeting, citizens jury, deliberatice poll etc. the engagement of different stakeholders’ groups in the decision making processes concerning detailed planning issues (local spatial management plans, water management plans, the preservation management plans of the Natura 2000 sites) is usually based on the organization of open discussion meetings. The study looks at the social consultations regarding acceptance of local spatial management plans managed by Poznań City Hall and consultations concerning the preparation of water management plans managed by Regional Water Management Board in Poznań. The comparative analysis served to exhibit similarities and differences between the processes in terms of legal conditions, the organization of meetings, the length and the scale of the process and the actors engaged

Identifying Potential Conflict in Land-Use Planning Using a Values-Centered E-Participation Tool: A Canadian Case Study in Aggregate Mining

An innovative e-participation tool is used to facilitate the articulation of value-laden assumptions, and to identify key points of likely conflict in an aggregate mining controversy in Ontario, Canada. The expert model developed using ‘Public to Public Decision Support System (P2P-DSS) reflects a perspective that differs significantly from public perceptions in terms of the social values that influence rejection of a permit amendment application. By facilitating two-way communication about values assumptions P2P-DSS generates a novel dataset that can support pro-active conflict management and contribute to a shared understanding between government decision-makers and public citizens

Scenario analysis to support decision making in addressing wicked problems: pitfalls and potential

This paper provides a review and evaluation of the use of scenario methods from the Intuitive Logics (IL) school to address so-called ‘wicked problems’. Scenario planning has been widely advocated by its practitioners and its popularity has increased in the practice arena since the Millennium. However, some academics have described the technique as an ‘art’ that lacks theoretical and methodological rigour. Over recent years, academics have responded to this critique, drawing on both empirical and conceptual studies. This has led to a multiplicity of augmented IL scenario methods. Here, we review these developments and compare them to soft OR methods as a means of tackling wicked problems, drawing, in particular, on Churchman’s moral imperative that we must address the whole problem, not merely ‘carve off’ one part. We conclude that IL scenario planning can be a useful tool in the OR practitioner’s tool kit and that it can complement many of the established soft OR method

Computer-based tools for supporting forest management. The experience and the expertise world-wide

Report of Cost Action FP 0804 Forest Management Decision Support Systems (FORSYS)Computer-based tools for supporting forest management. The experience and the expertise world-wide answers a call from both the research and the professional communities for a synthesis of current knowledge about the use of computerized tools in forest management planning. According to the aims of the Forest Management Decision Support Systems (FORSYS) (http://fp0804.emu.ee/) this synthesis is a critical success factor to develop a comprehensive quality reference for forest management decision support systems. The emphasis of the book is on identifying and assessing the support provided by computerized tools to enhance forest management planning in real-world contexts. The book thus identifies the management planning problems that prevail world-wide to discuss the architecture and the components of the tools used to address them. Of importance is the report of architecture approaches, models and methods, knowledge management and participatory planning techniques used to address specific management planning problems. We think that this synthesis may provide effective support to research and outreach activities that focus on the development of forest management decision support systems. It may contribute further to support forest managers when defining the requirements for a tool that best meets their needs. The first chapter of the book provides an introduction to the use of decision support systems in the forest sector and lays out the FORSYS framework for reporting the experience and expertise acquired in each country. Emphasis is on the FORSYS ontology to facilitate the sharing of experiences needed to characterize and evaluate the use of computerized tools when addressing forest management planning problems. The twenty six country reports share a structure designed to underline a problem-centric focus. Specifically, they all start with the identification of the management planning problems that are prevalent in the country and they move on to the characterization and assessment of the computerized tools used to address them. The reports were led by researchers with background and expertise in areas that range from ecological modeling to forest modeling, management planning and information and communication technology development. They benefited from the input provided by forest practitioners and by organizations that are responsible for developing and implementing forest management plans. A conclusions chapter highlights the success of bringing together such a wide range of disciplines and perspectives. This book benefited from voluntary contributions by 94 authors and from the involvement of several forest stakeholders from twenty six countries in Europe, North and South America, Africa and Asia over a three-year period. We, the chair of FORSYS and the editorial committee of the publication, acknowledge and thank for the valuable contributions from all authors, editors, stakeholders and FORSYS actors involved in this project

Structuring contrasting forest stakeholders' views with the Strategic Options Development and Analysis (SODA) approach

The study reported here aimed at presenting the structuring of a complex problem that emerges from contrasting perspectives of different stakeholders on the use and conservation of native forests in a context where regulations restrict their management, as occurs in Santa Catarina State, Brazil. The methodology adopted in this work consisted both in the construction of a causal map, based on interviews with stakeholders of Santa Catarina native forests, and in the analysis of the map using techniques of the Strategic Options Development and Analysis (SODA) approach. The analyses carried out indicated that the economic valuation of forest resources as well as the monitoring of forest cover are key issues for the management of Santa Catarina’s native forests. In addition, the information generated by the causal map analysis can assist not only the process of designing innovative and all-inclusive policies for the management of native forests, but also the modeling process based on Systems Dynamics in order to evaluate the impacts of policies on the dynamics that govern the conservation and use of the resources of native forests. The adopted SODA approach also proved to be effective in structuring the complex problem situation addressed in this study

Strategic planning in the forestry sector: a comparison among different national initiatives in Europe

Sustainable management of forest ecosystem resources requires long-term planning approaches. This study presents the comparative analysis of the National Forest Strategies of Germany, Finland, Scotland, and Greece by using different literature resources and official documents. Each country has its own problems related to the forest sector in the form of climate change, biodiversity loss, overexploitation of forest resources, and unchecked human interventions that influences the efficiency of the National Forest Sector. All the four National Forest Strategies have a similar basic content structure consisting of: vision, a set of objectives, areas of action, financing bodies, description of a monitoring and valuation system, and involvement of stakeholders. However, due to different forest problems there are also some dissimilarities in the structure as some National Forest Strategies contains additional contents; for instance, Finnish National Forest Strategy additionally includes the socio-economic impacts of the Finnish National Forest Strategy, Scottish Forest Strategy includes strategic drivers, and Greek National Forest Strategy includes horizontal crosscutting and vertical thematic axis depending on the needs of the Greek forest ecosystem. Implementation of these Strategies requires collaboration from the State government, national agencies, and several other stakeholders using modern digital technologies. National Forest Strategies are coordinated with other National Strategies to achieve common goals such as: biodiversity conservation, forest soil protection, better infrastructure, climate change adaptation, and mitigation etc. Comparative analysis of different National Forest Strategies also shows efforts of different state governments towards their commitment to achieve the goals mentioned in the National Forest Strategies.Sustainable management of forest ecosystem resources requires long-term planning approaches. This study presents the comparative analysis of the National Forest Strategies of Germany, Finland, Scotland, and Greece by using different literature resources and official documents. Each country has its own problems related to the forest sector in the form of climate change, biodiversity loss, overexploitation of forest resources, and unchecked human interventions that influences the efficiency of the National Forest Sector. All the four National Forest Strategies have a similar basic content structure consisting of: vision, a set of objectives, areas of action, financing bodies, description of a monitoring and valuation system, and involvement of stakeholders. However, due to different forest problems there are also some dissimilarities in the structure as some National Forest Strategies contains additional contents; for instance, Finnish National Forest Strategy additionally includes the socio-economic impacts of the Finnish National Forest Strategy, Scottish Forest Strategy includes strategic drivers, and Greek National Forest Strategy includes horizontal crosscutting and vertical thematic axis depending on the needs of the Greek forest ecosystem. Implementation of these Strategies requires collaboration from the State government, national agencies, and several other stakeholders using modern digital technologies. National Forest Strategies are coordinated with other National Strategies to achieve common goals such as: biodiversity conservation, forest soil protection, better infrastructure, climate change adaptation, and mitigation etc. Comparative analysis of different National Forest Strategies also shows efforts of different state governments towards their commitment to achieve the goals mentioned in the National Forest Strategies

Conservation of Natural and Cultural Heritage in Kenya

In Kenya, cultural and natural heritage has a particular value.This book brings together essays by heritage experts from different backgrounds, including conservation, heritage management, museum studies, archaeology, environment and social sciences, architecture and landscape, geography, philosophy and economics to explore three key themes: the underlying ethics, practices and legal issues of heritage conservation; the exploration of architectural and urban heritage of Nairobi; and the natural heritage, landscapes and sacred sites in relation to local Kenyan communities and tourism. It thus provides an overview of conservation practices in Kenya from 2000 to 2015 and highlights the role of natural and cultural heritage as a key factor of social-economic development, and as a potential instrument for conflict resolution

Participatory Ecosystem Management Planning at Tuzla Lake (Turkey) Using Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping

A participatory environmental management plan was prepared for Tuzla Lake, Turkey. Fuzzy cognitive mapping approach was used to obtain stakeholder views and desires. Cognitive maps were prepared with 44 stakeholders (villagers, local decisionmakers, government and non-government organization (NGO) officials). Graph theory indices, statistical methods and "What-if" simulations were used in the analysis. The most mentioned variables were livelihood, agriculture and animal husbandry. The most central variable was agriculture for local people (villagers and local decisionmakers) and education for NGO & Government officials. All the stakeholders agreed that livelihood was increased by agriculture and animal husbandry while hunting decreased birds and wildlife. Although local people focused on their livelihoods, NGO & Government officials focused on conservation of Tuzla Lake and education of local people. Stakeholders indicated that the conservation status of Tuzla Lake should be strengthened to conserve the ecosystem and biodiversity, which may be negatively impacted by agriculture and irrigation. Stakeholders mentioned salt extraction, ecotourism, and carpet weaving as alternative economic activities. Cognitive mapping provided an effective tool for the inclusion of the stakeholders' views and ensured initial participation in environmental planning and policy making.Comment: 43 pages, 4 figure