Beyond Public Participation: Fairness in Natural Resource Decision Making

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 fields. This suggests managers would be wise to focus less on public participation techniques and more on achieving fair decision-making processes.