Effective public participation in environmental decisionmaking a prerequisite

Effective public participation in environmental decision-making: a prerequisite for sustainable environmental management by Maxwell Kwame Boakye Supervisor: Prof. Mammo Muchie Co-supervisor: Prof. Ray Jansen

Introduction • Participation literature includes a plethora of undefined terms due to different value systems or mental models which has given it a variety of meanings based on ones values. Author Orientation Spectrum Arnstein (1969) Power Manipulation Citizen control Wiedemann and Femer (1993) Administrative Education Joint decision making Conner (1998) Conflict Resolution Education Prevention Dorcey et al. (1994) Planning Process Inform Ongoing Involvement • Degree : Involvement, Influence, Control decision-making process • All these should lead to facilitation of communication and engagement of citizens in problem solving

Public participation in environmental decision-making • Links between society and nature

Link between society and nature

Public participation in environmental decision-making • 1972 Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment which was the first to focus on human and the environment • The 1992 Rio UN Conference on Environment and Development • The 1995 Copenhagen UN Summit for Social Development • Johannesburg Declaration (2002) • National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) of 1998 • National Water Act (NWA) of 1998 • All these legislations call for increase public participation in environmental decision- making • Principle 10 of the Earth Summit in 1992 as well as Agenda 21 • Section 2(4)(f) of NEMA of 1998

Problem statement • These legislations are starting point for the necessary debate required to accomplish the promise of public participation. • The marginal effectiveness and success in the implementation of environmental policies and programmes and their non-acceptance by stakeholders is an indication of failure of the participation process • Factors that affects the effectiveness of participatory process should therefore be looked into critically.

Effectiveness • Advance planning – Technique used, Goal setting, Evaluation of participation process, Linking process to decisionmaking, Capacity building • Inclusiveness – Economic, Technical, Distributive justice – NGOs and CBOs • Organizational structure, Capacity of staff, Evaluation

Effectiveness cont… • Information – Before, during and after the participation process, Medium of presentation, Understanding of information • Awareness creation and notification – Different interest groups, Societal hierarchies, Medium (mass media-radio, television, and newspapers), Notices able to communicate fully concepts and ideas, Stimulate interest through visual and sound enhancement, location of notices • Timing – Time of notification, information dissemination, to comprehend information during the participation process, allotted for consultation with constituents

Methodology • Study area – Upper Vaal Catchment Management • Study group – Those who attend(ed) Upper Vaal Catchment Management Forum • Data collection methods – Primary and secondary data sources, Structured and semi-structured interviews, Ethnographic data sources • Data analysis – Statistical and thematical – Descriptive analysis and Pearson correlation index for test of relationship using SPSS statistical program – Significant themes from participants’ statements will be identified and presented in illustrative quotes that will help substantiate statements made by participants. It will also bring other readers closer to the direct understanding of participants viewpoint. • Limitations of study – Apathy by participants, Language barrier, Time, Budgetary allocation

Time frame for study Activity Responsible person Duration Faculty admission process Student January 2012 Literature review Student On-going Pilot testing of questionnaire Student January 2012 - March 2012 Deciphering results of pilot study Student and statistician April 2012 Field data collection Student May 2012 – April 2013 Deciphering results Student and statistician May 2013 – October 2013 Follow-up clarification of data if Student November 2013 – April 2014 Student May 2014 – October 2014 necessary Final write-up and submission

Conclusion • The main goal of this study is to provide information that will be useful in assessing the effectiveness of participatory processes in environmental decision-making in South Africa. • This is expected to assist in sustainable environmental management of resources, which will help promote human well-being and above all further entrench democratic principles in South Africa. • From an academic perspective, this study aims to publish the findings in peer-reviewed journals in addition to presenting findings at both local and international conferences.