This document summarizes the community participation process used in developing an integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) plan for Loch Etive in Scotland. It describes how the initial meetings started with accusations of job creation and claims the plan was futile. Through listening to community concerns and using facilitation techniques, the planners were able to transform initial suspicion into cooperation. The plan for Loch Etive was relatively uncontentious, but where conflicts are deeply entrenched, facilitation alone may not be enough and an understanding of local culture and history is important.
11. • Loch Etive ICZM plan was relatively uncontentious
• Where conflicts are deeply entrenched, the “us” and
“them” divide will not be resolved by facilitation
techniques alone (eg Lamlash Bay; Barra)
• An understanding of the local cultural context and social
history is necessary to illuminate underlying drivers of
surface tensions
• Strong link between people and place in Gaelic tradition
Some Caveats…