Wicked Environmental Problems

This new book examines past experience and future directions in the management of so-called 'wicked' environmental problems - those characterized by large-scale, long-term policy dilemmas and contentious political stalemates. Most importantly, the book reviews current thinking on the way forward, focusing on the implementation of 'learning networks,' in which public managers, technical experts, and public stakeholders collaborate in decision-making processes that are analytic, iterative, and deliberative. "Wicked Environmental Problems" offers new approaches for managing environmental conflicts and shows how managers could apply these approaches within common, real-world statutory decision-making frameworks. It is essential reading for anyone concerned with managing environmental problems.

"Both specialist and general reader will find much to engage them by reading Wicked Environmental Problems." -- "Electronic Green Journal", "Overall, a useful and affordable volume for scholars and practitioners in environmental management, complementing more detailed theoretical books on the market." -- "Choice", "This book has much to recommend it. The review of the wicked problems literature is very useful, especially for planning theory courses. The case studies nicely illustrate, especially when the outcomes are risky and the science is uncertain. Policy analysts and modelers will find the innovative preference analysis of special interest." -- "Journal of Planning Education and Research", "Wicked Environmental Problems is a thoughtful response to the question faced by every forest manager and land planner: how do we address risk and uncertainty in the face of profound public disagreement over management options for public lands? I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in complex environmental planning." --Jack Blackwell, retired Regional Forester, Pacific Southwest Region, US Forest Service, "Natural resource issues are becoming increasingly complex and difficult to resolve. In this book, Peter Balint and his colleagues offer fascinating insights into so-called wicked environmental problems. They suggest a commonsense approach to engage stakeholders through an adaptivemanagement framework for assessing policy options and devising solutions for the real world." --James R. Lyons, Lecturer, Yale University, and Senior Director, Defenders of Wildlife

Peter J. Balint is an associate professor of environmental policy in the Department of Public and International Affairs, George Mason University. Ronald E. Stewart spent thirty years with the USDADA Forest Service as Deputy Chief for Programs and Legislation and five years on the faculty of the Department of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University. Anand Desai is a Professor at the John Glenn School of Public Affairs at Ohio State University, in Columbus. Lawrence C. Walters is Stewart Grow Professor of Public Policy and Management in the Romney Institute, Brigham Young University, in Provo, Utah.