In the last two decades, people in a growing number of localities in the                  United States have developed grassroots ecosystem management (GREM) as a means to                  resolve policy problems affecting their environment, economy, and communities. Ad                  hoc and voluntary groups of environmentalists, developers, businesspeople, federal                  and state resource managers, farmers, loggers, local citizens, and those                  representing recreation interests use deliberation and consensus to enhance public                  policy performance. Instead of focusing on specific issues such as air pollution,                  GREM emphasizes the integrated management of entire watersheds and ecosystems. But                  what happens to democratic accountability in these collaborative efforts? Despite                  concerns that they might result in special interest government, the acceleration of                  environmental degradation, and an end-run around national environmental protection                  laws, this book suggests otherwise.Bringing Society Back In establishes a                  theoretical framework for exploring issues of policy performance and democratic                  accountability raised by GREM. Through three case studies--the Applegate Partnership                  in Oregon, the Henry's Fork Watershed Council in Idaho, and the Willapa Alliance in                  Washington state--it explores the mechanisms used to determine how accountability                  works. The book finds that by combining traditional and formal governance structures                  with informal institutions, GREM can be accountable to individuals, communities,                  surrounding regions, and the nation. The book also identifies conditions under which                  GREM is most likely to achieve democratic accountability. In addition, it                  investigates the connection between accountability and policy performance. The                  evidence suggests that GREM can produce environmental policy outcomes that are                  supportive not only of the environment and economy, but also of environmental                  sustainability.

Bringing Society Back In: Grassroots Ecosystem Management, Accountability, and Sustainable Communities (American and Comparative Environmental Policy) PDF

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