Online from publisher., Reports on a first bay-wide effort to protect shorelines from rising water, convening stakeholders to find common ground. Mediator hopes that giving all stakeholders a voice will ensure buy-in, even when talking to each other is optional.
Posted at http://www.ipra.org/frontlinedetail.asp?articleid=1357, Author emphasizes courting stakeholders and building alliances strong enough to withstand media attack.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D06964
Notes:
Pages 201-224 in David N. Laband, B. Graeme Lockaby and Wayne C. Zipperer (eds.), Urban-rural interfaces: linking people and nature. American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America and Soil Science Society of America, Madison, Wisconsin. 332 pages., Describes use of public participation geographic information systems.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 139 Document Number: D05910
Notes:
Pages 19-37 in Liverman,D.G.E., Pereira, C.P.G. and Marker, B. (eds) Communicating environmental geoscience. Special Publication 305, Geological Society, London, U.K.
9 pages., via online journal., Residents of Mexico City experience major hydrological risks, including flooding events and insufficient potable water access for many households. A participatory modeling project, MEGADAPT, examines hydrological risk as co-constructed by both biophysical and social factors and aims to explore alternative scenarios of governance. Within the model, neighborhoods are represented as agents that take actions to reduce their sensitivity to exposure and risk. These risk management actions (to protect their households against flooding and scarcity) are based upon insights derived from focus group discussions within various neighborhoods. We developed a role-playing game based on the model's rules in order to validate the assumptions we made about residents' decision-making given that we had translated qualitative information from focus group sessions into a quantitative model algorithm. This enables us to qualitatively validate the perspective and experience of residents in an agent-based model mid-way through the modeling process. Within the context of described hydrological events and the causes of these events, residents took on the role of themselves in the game and were asked to make decisions about how to protect their households against scarcity and flooding. After the game, we facilitated a discussion with residents about whether or not the game was realistic and how it could be improved. The game helped to validate our assumptions, validate the model with community members, and reinforced our connection with the community. We then discuss the potential further development of the game as a learning and communication tool.
17 pages., Online via UI e-subscription, Author described a process which led to consensus on a new environmental law mediated by legislators and the governor. Identified key elements in the process: (1) the issue must be ripe for action; the parties must feel something may happen imminently without their input. (2) the issue must be complex, not likely to be addressed satisfactorily without cooperative problem solving. (3) the parties must be patient and committed to spending whatever time it takes to reach an agreement.