Measuring the Effects of Stakeholder Participation on the Quality of Local Plans Based on the Principles of Collaborative Ecosystem Management

While theorists and practitioners consistently call for widespread participation in ecosystem management and environmental planning in general, few studies have empirically tested the assumption that community representation and stakeholder participation during the planning process will lead to stronger, more durable management plans. This article examines the impact of stakeholder representation and participation on ecosystem management strategies. It tests the relationship between community participation in the planning process and the quality of local plans associated with the long-term management of ecological systems. Besides the overall breadth of stakeholder groups involved in planning, the effects of specific stakeholders are tested and discussed to determine which has the greatest impact on the quality of an adopted plan. Statistical results indicate that the presence of specific stakeholders does in fact significantly increase ecosystem plans' quality. Policy implications are discussed to more effectively link the planning process to high-quality ecosystem planning outcomes.