Learning integrative negotiation to manage complex environmental issues: example of a gaming approach in the peri-urban catchment of São Paulo, Brazil

• Published in: Regional environmental change Vol. 15; no. 1; pp. 67 - 78
• Main Authors: Ducrot, Raphaelle, van Paassen, Annemarie, Barban, Vilma, Daré, William’s, Gramaglia, Christelle
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-01-2015; Springer Nature B.V; Springer Verlag
• Subjects: challenges; Climate Change; Climate Change/Climate Change Impacts; Earth and Environmental Science; Environment; Environmental Sciences; Geography; Natural resource management; Nature Conservation; Oceanography; Original Article; participation; Regional/Spatial Science; resources; sustainable management; Urban areas; water management; Brazil; Sao Paulo Brazil; Brazil, Sao Paulo; Negotiation; Capacity building; São Paulo; Social learning; Peri-urban catchment; Companion modelling; Land and water management; SAO PAULO; BRESIL; COMPANION MODELLING; SÃO PAULO; PERI-URBAN CATCHMENT; CAPACITY BUILDING; NEGOTIATION; LAND AND WATER MANAGEMENT
• ISSN: 1436-3798; 1436-378X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10113-014-0612-1

Participatory approaches are assumed to have a positive influence on decision-making for natural resource management. However, there are only a few detailed studies that examine their impact on participants. This paper analyses the contribution of a participatory modelling and simulation approach to the development of learning and relational capacity. It analyses two experiments that deal with pollution and sanitation issues in the expanding peri-urban settlements of São Paulo. The impact of the approach was assessed through interviews immediately after the simulation and 8 months later. The assessment identified the existence of social learning and the acquisition of skills related to integrative negotiation of complex environmental issues. Despite substantive and relational/normative learning, the acquisition of knowledge and negotiation skills, and a more integrative perspective, participants were unable to apply their new negotiation skills for a sustainable length of time within the prevalent socio-political and institutional context. A long-term iterative approach, involving relevant stakeholders in the process and process assessments, is needed to establish more conducive institutional structures.