Conclusions
Xl
Sustainable solutions concerning economic development have to integrate environmental concerns and to combine two main objectives: 1) to secure human values;
and 2) to respect the carrying capacity of the affected physical and biological systems. This means that we must observe principles of fairness in assessing the value of
nature. Modern technologies allow us to live in a closer harmony with our environment than we have been able even in the recent past. Business as usual is not a sustainable option. There should be a greater respect for nature in terms of its beauty,
uniqueness and ecological integrity. Protected areas and human environmental concerns in particular should be respected. Protected areas have important functions. As
formulated by UNEP 1991: "Natural resources can be turned into cash, but cash cannot be returned to natural resources".
These overriding aims have to be transferred into management. In their dealings
with each other, stakeholders should return to rational discussion. Principles of environmental ethics must become a matter of the highest priority. In dealing with environmental issues codes of moral conduct and practise should be compiled and implemented as soon as possible.
3
Integrated management approaches demand an open participatory process
• with the involvement of all stakeholders. Consequently, all involved parties
must be taken seriously. Only this will lead to greater readiness for mutual respect
and cooperation. It is necessary that the stakeholders are involved from the early
planning stages. By this, a better understanding of opposing points of view and the
concern for feelings or worries about uncertainties will be promoted.
It is of crucial importance that everybody is treated equally and has access to all
the information required for critical evaluation of the activities, their ongoing development and their ultimate consequences. In this way stakeholders will show more
willingness to seek consensus on what to consider as acceptable impacts and appropriate compensation measures.
The whole process of project planning and implementation is becoming a joint
effort to find solutions which are acceptable to everybody. Taking the matter one step
further, it is suggested that the public must be involved as well. The acceptance of
large-scale constructions with potentially adverse effects on the physical, biological
and social environment will be much better if the public is continuously informed
about the different phases of project implementation. Public hearings must therefore
take place. People will identify with a project and ongoing activities if they are proactively involved. A good example are the windmill parks in Denmark. Local people
have a share in the parks and thus consider the windmills as their own. This is a
completely different strategy from that adopted in other countries and, as a result,
the acceptance is much higher. Since the public has to live with the changes caused by
constructions, a pro-active involvement avoids unnecessary conflicts.
Despite all good intentions there will be cases where even an open dialogue between stakeholders will not result in consensus because of extreme differences of
opinion. In such cases independent mediation should be made available to maintain
a proper balance of interests and viewpoints and to ensure that basic ethical principles are observed. It should be emphasised that the mediation must be fully independent in order to have the trust and acceptance of all stakeholders and the public
in general.
Xl
Sustainable solutions concerning economic development have to integrate environmental concerns and to combine two main objectives: 1) to secure human values;
and 2) to respect the carrying capacity of the affected physical and biological systems. This means that we must observe principles of fairness in assessing the value of
nature. Modern technologies allow us to live in a closer harmony with our environment than we have been able even in the recent past. Business as usual is not a sustainable option. There should be a greater respect for nature in terms of its beauty,
uniqueness and ecological integrity. Protected areas and human environmental concerns in particular should be respected. Protected areas have important functions. As
formulated by UNEP 1991: "Natural resources can be turned into cash, but cash cannot be returned to natural resources".
These overriding aims have to be transferred into management. In their dealings
with each other, stakeholders should return to rational discussion. Principles of environmental ethics must become a matter of the highest priority. In dealing with environmental issues codes of moral conduct and practise should be compiled and implemented as soon as possible.
3
Integrated management approaches demand an open participatory process
• with the involvement of all stakeholders. Consequently, all involved parties
must be taken seriously. Only this will lead to greater readiness for mutual respect
and cooperation. It is necessary that the stakeholders are involved from the early
planning stages. By this, a better understanding of opposing points of view and the
concern for feelings or worries about uncertainties will be promoted.
It is of crucial importance that everybody is treated equally and has access to all
the information required for critical evaluation of the activities, their ongoing development and their ultimate consequences. In this way stakeholders will show more
willingness to seek consensus on what to consider as acceptable impacts and appropriate compensation measures.
The whole process of project planning and implementation is becoming a joint
effort to find solutions which are acceptable to everybody. Taking the matter one step
further, it is suggested that the public must be involved as well. The acceptance of
large-scale constructions with potentially adverse effects on the physical, biological
and social environment will be much better if the public is continuously informed
about the different phases of project implementation. Public hearings must therefore
take place. People will identify with a project and ongoing activities if they are proactively involved. A good example are the windmill parks in Denmark. Local people
have a share in the parks and thus consider the windmills as their own. This is a
completely different strategy from that adopted in other countries and, as a result,
the acceptance is much higher. Since the public has to live with the changes caused by
constructions, a pro-active involvement avoids unnecessary conflicts.
Despite all good intentions there will be cases where even an open dialogue between stakeholders will not result in consensus because of extreme differences of
opinion. In such cases independent mediation should be made available to maintain
a proper balance of interests and viewpoints and to ensure that basic ethical principles are observed. It should be emphasised that the mediation must be fully independent in order to have the trust and acceptance of all stakeholders and the public
in general.