Creating opportunities for improving lake‐focused stakeholder engagement: knowledge–action systems, pro‐environment behaviour and sustainable lake management

Abstract

Managers, policymakers, non‐government organizations and community groups are increasingly relying on stakeholder participation to bolster lake management efforts. The growing portfolio of lake‐focused stakeholder engagement cases offers valuable information about the efficacy of alternative stakeholder engagement strategies. While attention has been devoted to inventorying these instances, lesser emphasis has been given to evaluating the effectiveness of different participation and engagement approaches. There is arguably no panacea for involving stakeholders in lake and basin management. Lake management challenges in distinct natural and human systems necessitate diverse approaches for interacting with stakeholders. As calls for stakeholder participation increase and management budget constraints tighten, the urgency of exploring and documenting the effectiveness of alternative approach rises. This paper examines lake‐focused stakeholder participation activities targeting individuals and households, summarizes and shares recent findings from research of knowledge–action processes and pro‐environment behaviours, and offers encouragement and guidance for lake managers to create opportunities for improving lake‐focused stakeholder engagement.

The effect of rivers, streams, and canals on property values

“…Likewise, recreational and aesthetic benefits to nearby homeowners are an important value to consider in cost–benefit analyses of restoration programmes, that is, in addition to the reductions in property damages likely as a result of these measures. Accurate and reliable data that adequately represent the full range of benefits provided by ecosystems are a critical prerequisite to the development of the kinds of stakeholder‐focused management efforts of increasing prevalence and importance in the water resource realm (e.g., Bell, Lindenfeld, Speers, Teisl, & Leahy, ; Snell, Bell, & Leahy, ). Similarly, engagement of local people in the assessment and management of resources has been associated with their future stewardship of natural features (Streiner & Loomis, ).…”

From concept to practice to policy: modeling coupled natural and human systems in lake catchments

“…Some associations are formed by stakeholders themselves as bottom‐up, grass‐roots organizations, while others take a top‐down approach to connecting stakeholders around the lake to work toward a common goal (Kramer , Bell et al. , Thornton ).…”

“…These organizations are predominantly groups of citizens who work together to increase awareness, protection, and improvement of local water resources. Some associations are formed by stakeholders themselves as bottom-up, grass-roots organizations, while others take a top-down approach to connecting stakeholders around the lake to work toward a common goal (Kramer 2007, Bell et al 2013, Thornton 2013.…”

Transdisciplinary research partnerships in sustainability science: an examination of stakeholder participation preferences

“…Prior research on stakeholder engagement in scientific research and the public's participation in environmental decision-making (e.g. Bell et al 2013;Focht and Trachtenberg 2005;Hutchins et al 2013;Leahy and Lindenfeld 2013;Lyons et al 2014) informed the development of four broad strategies for stakeholder and researcher participation in transdisciplinary research processes: lead, consulting, facilitating and full. The strategies vary by researcher and stakeholder involvement in four general stages of the research process.…”