A research lab at ICTA-UAB
Strategies to solve social-ecological conflicts in cities need to cope with both ecological and societal complexity. On the one hand, they must integrate scientific knowledge, considering uncertainty and ignorance of potential ecological changes; on the other hand, they must accommodate diverse societal needs and wants, and acknowledge the multiple languages that social values are expressed in. In addition, there are ethical-normative arguments to be considered in environmental conflict resolution related to equity and social inclusion, intra-generational justice and intrinsic values of nature. At BCNUEJ, Participatory Multi-Criteria Decision Aid (MCDA) is used as a methodological framework for supporting decision-making situations in complex social-ecological systems including conflicting objectives and preferences. It is based on the assumption that effective and legitimate conflict resolution procedures in a fuzzy environment require a high degree of transparency and stakeholder involvement. Transparency is further enhanced by a clear process, which is comprehensible for participants and non-participants. Participatory MCDA relies on the engagement and consideration of stakeholders at different stages. While methods and the depth of stakeholder participation may vary at different stages of a participatory MCDA process, its legitimacy needs to be guaranteed through representation and procedural fairness.
- Bridging the gap between ecosystem service assessments and land-use planning through Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) (Environmental Science & Policy, 2016)
- Multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) in ecosystem service valuation (OpenNESS Ecosystem Services Reference Book, 2016)