News from the CEPA e-mail list
Dialogue matters - news network (09/01/06)
Good afternoon everyone:
Happy New Year!
I'm forwarding the message below from Diana Pound who runs Dialogue Matters, an organisation specialising in training on stakeholder participation in environmental management. The newsletter below is packed with useful materials that can be accessed online. Although rather biased towards UK materials since it is primarily designed to support UK-based people working in the environment sector, these materials will be useful to most readers so I really recommend spending some time on the links; I would be very surprised if you did not find something worth reading!
You can subscribe to this occasional newsletter by writing to news.network@dialoguematters.co.uk with 'Subscribe' in the subject line.
With best wishes for 2006, Sandra Hails, Ramsar Secretariat
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-----Original Message-----
From: News Network [mailto:news.network@dialoguematters.co.uk]
Sent: 03 January 2006 19:16
To: news.network@dialoguematters.co.uk
Subject: Fw: dialogue matters - network mailing Jan 2006
dialogue matters news network
Jan 2006
(Best viewed in HTML Format)
Intro
- This is the second of an occasional mailing to people we have trained, or who we know have a particular interest in the use of stakeholder dialogue and participation in environmental management. The newsletters include information we come across about relevant publications, web resources, events, case examples, developments, new policy, and our own news such as training courses.
- Do please send us any information you come across that you think may be of interest to others.
- If you are new to the list and did not receive the September newsletter and would like it, let us know.
- If you know others who you think may be interested in receiving this, do please forward this to them and suggest they register at the address below.
- Please let us know if you do not want to be on this news list.
- Contact address: News.network@dialoguematters.co.uk
On-line resources
- Systems Thinking. Stakeholder dialogue can be used to develop systems thinking by harnessing the knowledge and understanding of those who use or interact with different parts of the system. However understanding more about systems thinking itself is very helpful. Through our recent contact with the 'Systems Group' at the OU we have been introduced to a fascinating web site they have developed in collaboration with the BBC. Here you can be taken through an introduction to systems thinking, try your hand at understanding stakeholder perspectives in the 'Forest Common' simulation, and find out how to do a systems map or a multiple cause diagram - both great ways to start to understand a situation. For more go to http://www.open2.net/systems/
- Diagramming. The OU Systems Group also have their own website. Check out their demos on ways of diagramming eg spray diagrams, rich pictures, systems maps, multiple cause diagrams and sign graphs. All techniques that could be adapted to be done collaboratively in stakeholder workshops. For more info go to: http://systems.open.ac.uk/materials/t552/index.htm
Publications
- The Involve publication ‘People & Participation - how to put people at the heart of decision making’ has now been finished and can be downloaded from http://www.involving.org/mt/archives/blog_13/People%20and%20Participation%20final.pdf download. This is an extremely useful report (many who trained with us this year saw the draft version and wanted a copy). The publication includes sections titled 'An Introduction to Participation', 'Planning for Participation' and 'Methods for Participation'. The methods section reviews a wide range of participation approaches, bodies and packages. Each is described along with information about its origins, what it can be used for, who participates, the cost, time, when it should or shouldn't be used, a SWOT analysis and where the approach best fits on the spectrum of participation (info giving, gathering, consultation and shared decision making). Hard copies are in the order of £20 not including p&p but there may be discounts for students and NGO's. Contact edward@involving.org
- Bioforum is the European Biodiversity Forum set up to build understanding about conflict between conservation of biodiversity and human activities. They have produced several publications:
- Conflicts between human activities and the conservation of biodiversity in agricultural landscapes, grasslands, forests, wetlands and uplands in Europe http://www.nbu.ac.uk/bioforum/Bioforum%20report%20_V_5.pdf .
- The Ecosystems Approach applied to Spatial Planning (chapter 7.0 Stakeholder Involvement was written by Diana) http://www.nbu.ac.uk/bioforum/spatialplanning_V5.pdf .
- Biodiversity Conflict Management http://www.nbu.ac.uk/bioforum/CMWGV_4.pdf
Research
- In the last newsletter we mentioned some research on Barriers to Participation - True Costs of Participation funded by the Home Office (Civil Renewal Unit) and also undertaken by Involve. Involve have completed the initial research, and a draft document is now available, which they would appreciate comments on. For an update and downloads go to http://www.involving.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=main.viewSection&intSectionID=212.
Events
- A call for proposals for papers, sessions and posters has been issued for the Participatory Approaches in Science and Technology (PATH) Conference, 4-7th June 2006, Edinburgh, UK. Themes include the following subjects: GMO's in Agriculture, Nanotechnology, Conservation of Biodiversity and Water Management, and cross cutting themes such as Trust, Gender, Innovative methods, Critical Perspectives on Public Participation. The PATH conference aims to explore how best to involve stakeholders and the public in policy development and decision-making on science and technology issues. The conference will bring together policy makers, practitioners and academics to exchange knowledge and explore future directions for public participation in these areas. Further details can be found on the website: http://www.macaulay.ac.uk/PATHconference/ or by contacting Jane Lund (j.lund@macaualay.ac.uk ) or Wendy Kenyon (w.kenyon@macaulay.ac.uk). Deadline for submission of abstracts: 13th January 2006.
dialogue matters' news
- Training Course: Beyond Consultation - This is a 3 day training course in Good Practice in Stakeholder Participation with a focus on environmental decisions. The course helps participants: explore the benefits and challenges of involving stakeholders in decisions about the environment; understand the principles and concepts of stakeholder participation; learn practical facilitation skills; and learn how to design a participation process. The next course runs as follows arrive evening 3 April and training 4,5 and 6 April. To register interest email : training@dialoguematters.co.uk .
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We hope you have found this first issue of 'dialogue matters news network' informative and helpful. If you have any comments do contact us at: news.network@dialoguematters.co.uk. For general inquiries please contact diana.pound@dialoguematters.co.uk
(If you do not wish to receive subsequent e-mails please send an e-mail to News.network@dialoguematters.co.uk with unsubscribe in the subject line)
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Sandra Hails, CEPA Programme Officer
Ramsar Convention Secretariat
Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 999 0176; Fax: +41 22 999 0169
E-mail: hails@ramsar.org
Web Site: http://ramsar.org
CEPA mini-Web site: http://ramsar.org/outreach_index.htm
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