Understanding the natural science is not enough. For coastal management initiatives to be effective, understanding the people side of the equation is equally important.
Top-down, agency-driven decision-making models are quietly becoming a thing of the past. Stakeholder participation is now seen as a fundamental operational component—a way to improve public support, reduce conflict, increase compliance, and help organizations make better policies and decisions.
The Nuts and Bolts of It
Engaging the public in coastal management has its costs. The process can be time-consuming, labor-intensive, confrontational, and expensive. If improperly managed, the process can create new conflicts or escalate existing challenges. Organizations need to do their homework, and do it well, to fully realize the benefits and side-step potential negatives.
Following some general rules can help organizations increase their chances of success.
The first rule is to determine when stakeholder participation is needed. Minor decisions and emergency situations are generally not appropriate. Complex situations with far-reaching impacts, on the other hand, usually warrant stakeholder involvement.
Next, some thought needs to go into defining who the stakeholders are. It is tempting to include “anyone who visits the beach” in a list, or some other equally broad statement. But a more methodical analysis can help an organization not only define the appropriate stakeholders, but also help answer some of the finer questions surrounding the participatory process, including the best meeting method, the optimal time and day for the meeting, and possible conflicts among stakeholders.
Many processes can be used to get people involved:
- Advisory group or task force
- Public meeting or town meeting
- Open house
- Workshop
- Charrette
- Field trip
- Retreat
- Focus group
- Poll or survey
The issue at hand, the stakeholders, schedules and time frames, level of input desired, and agency capabilities are some of the factors that determine whether, how, and when stakeholder participation should be solicited.
Getting Help from the NOAA Coastal Services Center
The NOAA Coastal Services Center’s Human Dimensions program provides technical assistance to coastal management professionals addressing complex, human-based problems. The Center’s free publication, “Introduction to Stakeholder Participation,” is a good starting point for information. Then, the Center can help organizations define their goals and challenges, design and evaluate an appropriate public participation process, and in some cases move the process along by providing a trained facilitator.
Order the Introduction to Stakeholder Participation publication by e-mailing Zac.Hart@noaa.gov.
To access these and other social science services, visit the Center’s website at www.csc.noaa.gov and look under “Technical Assistance,” or contact the Human Dimensions program manager, Tricia Ryan, at Tricia.Ryan@noaa.gov.
