Community Consultation in Environmental Policy Making

Policies are created or changed in a variety of ways but reviews of environmental legislation usually follow a predictable path. The wider population is rarely involved. This case study describes a more inclusive approach. The authors claim that the greater the level of deliberation, the more confident policy makers can be in the results of community consultation. Further, they contend that some consultation methods are more likely than others to stimulate creative resolution of complex environmental issues and can certainly add value to the policy making process, especially when policies are contentious and value-laden.