NCJ Number
97335
Journal
Peace and Change Volume: 8 Issue: 2/3 Dated: special issue (Summer 1982) Pages: 105-116
Date Published
1982
Length
12 pages
Annotation
The field of environmental conflict management uses a nonadversarial approach with enormous potential for providing efficient and economical procedures for equitably resolving the many environmental controversies that will inevitably occur in the 1980's.
Abstract
Environmental conflicts are a relatively new area in which dispute resolution procedures are being used. These disputes usually have more than two disputants, involve parties with divergent amounts of power, involve complex issues, can result in irreversible decisions, do not have established mediation or arbitration procedures, and may have time requirements for decisions. In addition, the parties may differ widely in ideology and values. Because many conflicts result in programs requiring years to implement and with possibilities for new disagreements, conflict management is often a more appropriate concept than conflict resolution. The stages of conflict resolution are analysis, the design of a plan, and the management of a plan. Four common procedures in conflict management are conciliation, facilitation by an outside party, negotiation, and mediation. Outside intervention agencies handle four categories of conflict management projects: information exchange, policy discussions, cooperative problemsolving, and mediation. A few organizations are currently applying conflict resolution procedures to environmental disputes. To increase the use of these procedures, greater awareness, training programs, and more organizations that offer these services are needed. Funding is also crucial. Notes and three case examples illustrating the use of conflict management techniques in environmental disputes are included.