Participatory Modelling in Environmental Decision-Making: The Ria Formosa Natural Park Case Study

2003 ◽  
Vol 05 (03) ◽  
pp. 421-447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nuno Videira ◽  
Paula Antunes ◽  
Rui Santos ◽  
Sofia Gamito
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Stakeholder Involvement ◽  
Participatory Modelling ◽  
Environmental Decision Making ◽  
Environmental Decisions ◽  
Modelling Framework ◽  
Ria Formosa ◽  
Natural Park ◽  
Environmental Decision

Environmental decision-making generally involves issues of complexity, uncertainty and information feedback. The complexity of environmental problems calls for integrated and multi-disciplinary approaches, which include civil society and stakeholder groups affected by or affecting environmental decisions. This paper presents a participatory modelling framework to facilitate public and stakeholder involvement in environmental decision-making. Results from a case study in the Ria Formosa Natural Park in Portugal illustrate the process of participatory modelling. The use of the System Dynamics modelling methodology facilitates the identification of the fundamental structure underlying the processing of information flows in order to achieve the desired behaviour of environmental decisions. It sets up a collaborative environment for the involvement of stakeholders in the development and experimentation of alternative policy scenarios. Along with the achievement of a simulation model, this approach is likely to foster trust in institutions, promote team learning and increase commitment towards actions.

Risk and Precaution in Decision Making about Nature

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Aldred
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Precautionary Principle ◽  
The Precautionary Principle ◽  
Environmental Decision Making ◽  
Environmental Decisions ◽  
Environmental Decision

The normative bases for two fundamentally different approaches to environmental decision making are examined. First, orthodox “risk assessment.” In the conditions of (partial) uncertainty or ignorance prevailing in many environmental decisions, it is argued that CBA and similar forms of risk assessment should not be used in isolation. Second, the precautionary principle. Two conditions—broadly speaking, “uncertainty” and “particular threats”—seem especially relevant to determining the applicability of the precautionary principle. Gardiner’s “Rawlsian Core Precautionary Principle” is examined in detail. It features both conditions; an incommensurabilist interpretation of the latter is adopted. In short, precaution is justified in decision contexts involving both uncertainty and incommensurability. Since both uncertainty and incommensurability are matters of degree, there are intermediate cases to consider. The analysis argues that with “more” uncertainty, “less” incommensurability is required to justify precaution, and vice versa.

Dynamics of environmental decision making: A preliminary study

2021 ◽  
Vol 49 (6) ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Yu Sun ◽  
Yiping Zhong
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Time Pressure ◽  
Dictator Game ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Decision Time ◽  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
Research Attention ◽  
Environmental Decision Making ◽  
Environmental Decisions ◽  
Environmental Decision

Little research attention has been paid to the cognitive processes underlying environmental decision making. We examined environmental decisions in public and private spheres made under different decision time periods, using a minimal version of the dictator game. Participants made binary decisions according to whether they would cede their cash proceeds to support environmental conservation. The results show that time pressure amplified participants' behavioral preferences: More proenvironmental choices were made under time pressure than when there was a time delay allowed or when there was no time limit on the decision. This bias was found to occur intuitively, without significant differences resulting from the environmental decisions being in public versus private spheres. These findings provide preliminary evidence that environmental decisions are the outcome of intuitive and deliberative processes.

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