Title

Citizen participation in natural resource management: Does representativeness matter?

Authors

Authors

B. K. Marshall;R. E. Jones

Comments

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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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