Inclusive and community participation in the coastal zone: Opportunities and dangers

Abstract

Inclusive and community participation applies to negotiating procedures that are designed to encompass a wide and representative range of interested parties to guide environmental management. For such a democratic procedure to prove effective, the participatory procedures need to be accepted by policymakers and those responsible for delivery. These procedures must also be fully representative so as to be accepted to all stakeholders. Finally the process must be pragmatic and timely. This chapter examines both the theory and practice of inclusionary procedures for coastal management for long-term and uncertain coastal futures. It concludes that such procedures cannot easily be put in place unless there is a change in the design and management of coastal governance. Some suggested proposals are enhanced as part of long-term research evaluation of changing approaches to governance for sustainable development.