Are public meetings effective platforms for gathering environmental management preferences that most local stakeholders share?

• Published in: Journal of environmental management 2019-09, Vol.245, p.496-503
• Main Author: Rasch, Rebecca
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Conservation of Natural Resources; Forest management; Land management planning; Participatory planning; Public Opinion; Public participation; Research Design; Rural land use; Stakeholder analysis
• ISSN: 0301-4797; 1095-8630
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.05.060

This analysis tests the theory of the collective action problem by comparing data collected from public meetings with data collected through a random sample of households, to better understand how representative preferences expressed during public meetings are of local stakeholders within a defined social area of influence. While previous studies have focused on the lack of representative participation at public meetings, this work moves beyond the concepts of who comes to the table and why and instead, explores the way that a public engagement process, may or may not provide planners with a representative understanding of local stakeholder preferences. The findings suggest that even when starting with a comprehensive stakeholder analysis, creating space for facilitated dialogue, and carefully curating discussions to focus on shared preferences, public meetings - though highly valuable as a tool for engagement - may not be effective platforms for gathering a comprehensive understanding of the land management preferences that most local stakeholders share. •Preferences of meeting participants may not reflect the majority of local stakeholders.•Public meeting discussions showcase both majority and non-majority preferences.•Drawing conclusions about majority preferences based on meeting discourse is risky.