Citizen participation in natural resource management: Does representativeness matter?

    Authors

    B. K. Marshall;R. E. Jones

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Sociol. Spectr.

    Keywords

    ROOTS ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT; POLITICAL EFFICACY; PUBLIC-PARTICIPATION; PANEL; QUESTION; TRUST; Sociology

    Abstract

    The main focus of this research is on the changing role of citizen participation in natural resource management. Evidence suggests that citizens who participate in the management of natural resources are not representative of stakeholders who are impacted by the decisions being made. In an effort to assess the representativeness of citizen participation, we conducted telephone surveys of "residents" who live in the watershed of Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA) Norris Reservoir and "oarticipants" in TVA's Norris Public Lands Plan. As hypothesized, we found participants to be older, disproportionately male, more educated, and more affluent, and as having higher levels of political efficacy and trust in government than residents. Exploratory analyses revealed many other significant differences between participants and residents. We conclude by suggesting that increased and representative citizen participation is necessary for the successful implementation of an ecosystem-based approach and to address problems associated with non-point source pollution.

    Journal Title

    Sociological Spectrum

    Volume

    25

    Issue/Number

    6

    Publication Date

    1-1-2005

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    715

    Last Page

    737

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000233013400004

    ISSN

    0273-2173

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