Assignment #3

13.] I believe that managers and environmental planners should engage the public even if they know that the public’s knowledge is limited about the science of an environmental issue. The Shepherd and Bowler article provided good rationales for my belief in public participation; first, they describe public participation as a fair conduct of democratic governance in public decision-making activities. Secondly, by engaging in public participation, meeting public needs will be ensured. Third, by engaging the public, hostility can be reduced since the public can influence the decision-making process. Finally, by including local knowledge and values and publicly examining expert knowledge, the final decision becomes better.

The negative consequences of not including the public can be an increased distrust of the public with public managers and environmental planners in the event something goes wrong. The Army’s example in the Shepherd and Bowler article is a good illustration of how public participation should be garnered. Although the program was put on hold, feedback can be gained regarding why the public was not fully satisfied. In the end, I feel that public participation is vital in ensuring a healthy relationship between the decision makers and the community.

14.] Contingent valuation (CV) can be used to evaluate the installation of wind turbines and solar panels. Since the installation of such technologies is considered to have an impact on natural land formations and migratory birds, CV can be sued to gather information on the willingness of the public to support such programs despite their negative effects.

Another use of CV can be to address preservation of natural forests. Since natural forests are necessary for the protection of wildlife and the ecology, CV can be used to address the preferences of people regarding the protection endangered species and the environment. In both cases, CV can also be used to come up with monetary estimates for losses caused by any damages.

15.] I don’t believe that CV can be used in the event of transboundary air pollution or contamination. Since such pollution automatically constitutes a political issue, it is best to rely on government officials to address the problem and reach an amicable solution.

Another example of not using CV would be during instances of wildfires that may be traced back to an individual or individuals. Although appropriate fines should be imposed, the fact that a wildfire was started by an individual as opposed to a company does not necessitate the use of a contingent valuation.