Abstract

The paper seeks to shed new light on both the dynamics and possibilities for resolving complex land use conflicts by examining the development of the Great Bear Rainforest (GBR) Agreement in British Columbia, Canada. This agreement signalled a major policy change in the region by increasing the protection of old growth forests from 9% to 33% of the total planning area and by promoting more environmentally friendly logging practices though the establishment of ecosystem-based management. It also gave rise to new land use planning relationships between the Province and First Nations. Our analysis shows that 'success' in reaching agreement in land use conflicts can be better understood when political science's work on policy regimes and their background conditions is combined with planning theory's work on deliberative processes. We suggest that collaborative planning theory can complement the policy regime approach by highlighting how process design and the interactions that occur within policy arenas provide the physical and organisational spaces for dialogue, collaboration and policy change. The policy regime approach, on the other hand, helps draws attention to the dynamics of policy processes and consequent changes in governance relations that motivate actors to work together, instead of against each other. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Collaborative environmental management; Land use conflicts; Policy regime approach; Forest policy; Deliberative planning; Environmental governance

Published in

Land Use Policy
2013, Volume: 32, pages: 271-280
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCI LTD

SLU Authors

• Raitio, Kaisa

  • Department of Urban and Rural Development, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Sustainable Development Goals

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns


UKÄ Subject classification

Political Science (excluding Public Administration Studies and Globalization Studies)
Social Sciences Interdisciplinary


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2012.10.019

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/51110