E-participation Requires Systems IntelligencePaula Siitonen and Raimo P. HmlinenHelsinki University of Technology, Systems Analysis LaboratoryMarcelo Tabarelli, Pernambuco Federal UniversityConservation of the Atlantic Forests in Northeast Brazil

Emotions as well as Facts are Important in ParticipationEvery participation process is systemicPeople react to the way the process is initially framed and carried outThese reactions and feedbacks have an impact in the outcomes of the processA successfull participation process requires the consideration of the facts and goals as well as peoples relationships and interactions with Systems Intelligence

Systems Intelligence (SI) Intelligent and active behaviour of an individual in the context of systems with interactions and feedbacks (Saarinen & Hmlinen 2004)

Systems intelligence: A person sees the situation as a system, herself in it, her own impact on the system and the impact of the other components (people, organizations) of the system on her. She behaves creativily concerning these feedbacks.

Understanding the System Interaction and feedbacks between people and between human system and forest ecosystemIncludes facts and hidden values and emotions such as trust and fear

SI Participation ProcessBring the participants into a dialogue to build positive trust and to give people a voiceFrame the situation as a collaborative process to learn more together to reach mutual benefits instead of conflict managementUsing dialogue work towards shared understanding of the situation as a system with intercations and feedbacks between the people and between the human and natural system. Work together to define a common goal; the desired benefits and a process to produce them. Structure the objectives. Consider also unmeasurable invisible objectives such as trust.Create and evaluate different ways to change the existing system to a desired one. These are strategy alternatives.Monitor and evaluate the process. Consider what was created and also what was not yet created. See this as a possibility and a challenge for the future collaboration.

Case:

Design a process for the sustainable conservation of the Atlantic Forests in Northeast Brazil using SI

Policy IssuesForests fragmented (3% remains), more large continuos areas needed for species survival: restoration and agroforestryHunting and illegal cuttingsPeople are poor and level of education is lowMost of remaining forests are on private landsLaw requires conservation of remaining forests and reforestation of river corridors. Law is not conformedSuger mills started reforestation of the river corridors to ensure water supply and to improve competitiveness

How to improve species survival and economic and social wellfare?

Methods and Participation in Brazil CaseDialogue Internet pageFacilitated meetingsSystems descriptionField excursionsGISMCDA-programsEvaluating feelings

StartingDialogue to create positive trustFraming the situation as a collaborative process: To learn moreTo reach mutual benefits To create sustainable development in the region rather than just conservation

Seeing the Situation as a SystemWho are the decision makers and other interested parties in Atlantic Forests?Why? Benefits? Goals?See interactions between the parties involvedSee interactions between parties and forest ecosystemWorking towards a shared vision of the present situation

Defining a Common GoalFocus on the desired benefits instead of conflicts ! What kind of system or process produces these benefits?Structure benefits as fundamental objectives such as maintenance of species, and means objectives, such as habitat area, and ways to reach them such as restoration.

Water, Food, Species, Money...

Evaluating Policy Alternatives Law: reforestation of river corridorsJointly improving: using native species, connecting fragments, environmental education and economic alternatives...

Aims to improve mutual understanding of the situation and to create innovative strategy alternatives

ConclusionThe way the process is started and framed is crucialGoals and facts are just one partSustainable conservation is an outcome of a systems intelligent collaborative learning process E-participation requires this all: a systems intelligenent approach

References

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Project Web pages:

Conservation of the Atlantic Forests in Northeast Brazil: http://www.environment.sal.tkk.fi/brazil

SAL Environmental Decision Making and Participation: http://www.environment.sal.tkk.fi