Perceptions of justice in decision outcomes and processes increases trust, support for authorities, and satisfaction with unfavorable outcomes (Lind and Tyler 1988). However, very little research has been done to apply justice concepts to natural resource decision making contexts (an exception is Lauber and Knuth 1997;1998). In the study presented here, two rounds of focus groups with public participants in the Northern Lower Michigan Ecosystem Management Project were conducted. Participants were asked to describe their experiences with and attitudes toward different types of public participation. They were also asked what criteria they use when judging the fairness of a natural resource agency decision. Themes emerging in the answers included the importance of representation, voice, consideration, logic, and desired outcomes. These are very similar to justice principles documented in other elds. This suggests managers would be wise to focus less on public participation techniques and more on achieving fair decision-making processes.

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Although studies of environmentalism proliferate, questions still exist regarding the environmentalism of African Americans and other ethnic minorities. The objectives of this study included (a) assessing the differences between African Americans’ and Euro-Americans’ environmental attitudes, (b) determining preferences for, and frequency of participation in environmental behaviors of African Americans and Euro-Americans, and (c) testing the influence of feelings of powerlessness as barriers to environmental behavior. Both African Americans and Euro-Americans showed environmental concern in their attitudes and reported participating occasionally to frequently in environmentally responsible behaviors. The relationship of powerlessness to environmental behavior was stronger for African Americans than Euro-Americans. This study challenges earlier works that suggest African Americans show little concern about the environment and gives limited support to the theory that feelings of powerlessness create a barrier to positive environmental behavior or participation.

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