Citizen participation in environmental planning: context and consequence

Thesis/Dissertation · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:5347400

Seltzer, E P

This dissertation attempts to answer two questions: (1) what is citizen participation in environmental planning; (2) does citizen participation in environmental planning contribute to or facilitate environmental quality. Human-systems ecology is proposed as one possible approach, with methods, for planners to use when evaluating or including citizen participation in environmental planning. Literature is reviewed from the fields of environmental planning, positive political theory, collective choice, citizen participation, and human-systems ecology. A case study of citizen participation in environmental planning - drainage management in an urban watershed in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area - is presented to illustrate the use of human-systems ecology in planning and the concepts drawn from the literatures reviewed. The conclusions of this study is that citizen participation, as it is typically used, cannot satisfy the needs of either planners or citizens, and will probably not contribute positively to attaining goals for environmental quality. Human-systems ecology offers great promise for planners concerned with meeting goals for environmental quality and for democratically managing natural resources.

• OSTI ID: 5347400
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290200 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Economics & Sociology
290300* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
290400 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Energy Resources
ECOLOGY
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
HUMAN FACTORS
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
MANAGEMENT
PLANNING
POLITICAL ASPECTS
PUBLIC OPINION
RESOURCES