title: Evaluating collaborative planning methods supporting programme-based planning in natural resource management.
abstract: Programme-based Planning of Natural Resources (PBPNR) is an evolving planning frame for solving complex land use, environmental and forest management problems within hierarchically administrated funding and decision-making schemes. PBPNR acknowledges that an effective planning process requires the combined consideration of environmental, technological, economic and socio-political factors. To reach acceptability, commitment and operability, PBPNR processes need to foster collaboration and learning. For this study, an analysis of 43 collaborative planning methods was conducted to examine their potential to be applied within PBPNR. We present the approach of screening the applicability of methods for specific needs that may occur in PBPNR. The approach is based on a list of key criteria for the phases of a collaborative planning process: problem identification, problem modelling and problem solving. The features of each method were qualitatively assessed and peer-reviewed by a team of experts. Most of the methods are able to deal with qualitative data, support processes to increase transparency in planning and capture the preferences of the participating stakeholders. They also produce understandable results for the three phases. Contrarily, many methods do not offer features to handle uncertainty, nor do they satisfactorily stimulate creativity and innovation in the planning process. The results show that the overall applicability of the reviewed methods for the three planning phases varies according to a cluster analysis basing on the capabilities of the methods. Methods such as "Planning for Real", "Open Space" and "A'WOT" seem to be particularly promising for a broad range of planning situations.
authors: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Institute of Silviculture, Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: harald.vacik@boku.ac.at.
authors: Harald
authors: H
authors: Vacik
authors: Finnish Forest Research Institute (METLA), Joensuu Unit, Joensuu, Finland.
authors: Mikko
authors: M
authors: Kurttila
authors: Finnish Forest Research Institute (METLA), Vantaa Unit, Vantaa, Finland.
authors: Teppo
authors: T
authors: Hujala
authors: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Institute of Silviculture, Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, Vienna, Austria; Global Change Research Centre AS CR, Na Sadkach 7, 370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.
authors: Chiranjeewee
authors: C
authors: Khadka
authors: Finnish Forest Research Institute (METLA), Joensuu Unit, Joensuu, Finland; Oulu University of Applied Sciences, School of Renewable Natural Resources, Oulu, Finland.
authors: Arto
authors: A
authors: Haara
authors: University of Eastern Finland, School of Forest Sciences, Joensuu, Finland.
authors: Jouni
authors: J
authors: Pykäläinen
authors: Oulu University of Applied Sciences, School of Renewable Natural Resources, Oulu, Finland.
authors: Päivi
authors: P
authors: Honkakoski
authors: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Institute of Silviculture, Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, Vienna, Austria; European Forest Institute, Central-East European Regional Office (EFICEEC), Vienna, Austria.
authors: Bernhard
authors: B
authors: Wolfslehner
authors: Oulu University of Applied Sciences, School of Renewable Natural Resources, Oulu, Finland; University of Eastern Finland, School of Forest Sciences, Joensuu, Finland.
authors: Jukka
authors: J
authors: Tikkanen
mesh_terms: D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003657:Decision Making; D010934:Planning Techniques
keywords: Group decision making; Natural resource management; Participatory planning; Problem identification; Problem modelling; Problem solving