Abstract

Although participatory planning for conservation has gained prominence over the past few decades, whether this process is successful in protecting biodiversity is still controversial. Moreover, the initial, constitutive decisions about whom to include in the process may undermine the sometimes-implicit goal that non-participants will find the outcomes legitimate and equitable. Different pitfalls relate to the proper representation of all public interests, such as tyranny of the minority or conflicts of interest. We focus on the effective integration of the broad public interest into decisions on use and preservation of the environment, including biodiversity, and we argue why the broad public interest should be considered a prerequisite to processes that are democratic, legitimate and equitable. When narrower interests become entrenched, conservation conflicts can become chronic as opponents take irreconcilable positions and polarize debate. Participatory decision-making processes could be improved by codifying the democratic principles of intergenerational equity and the public trust doctrine. We make recommendations on how to integrate the broad public interest in conservation decisions.

Published in

Biological Conservation
2017, Volume: 212, number: Part A, pages: 139-143
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCI LTD

SLU Authors

• Chapron, Guillaume

  • Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG15 Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
SDG16 Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels


UKÄ Subject classification

Ecology


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2017.06.007

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/92526