Progress 10/01/11 to 09/30/14
Outputs
Target Audience: Through a workshop and the distribution of reports, we reached a target audience including local government officials, state environmental management agencies, and conservation nongovernmental organizations. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? This project provided the opportunity for training one postdoctoral associate. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Results have been disseminated through a workshop for local government officials, state environmental management agency representatives, and nongovernmental staff members and through the distribution of two extension reports. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Local governments face an array of challenges related to environmental conservation. Though local actors typically have some authority to manage natural resources, the extent of their influence is often dwarfed by ecological and social forces that transcend geographical and political boundaries. These forces vary widely in type, scope, and rate, and include issues such as shifting land use patterns, energy use and development, and climate change. To better understand how local governments operate in this dynamic context, we examined and identified an array of factors that influence local government’s capacity to adapt and respond to environmental change. Results illuminated the critical influence that knowledge, issue awareness, and political consensus have on local government actions. Findings affirm the value of dialogue and information dissemination as a precursor to local action. However, even in communities where knowledge, awareness, and consensus were present, ability to respond to environmental issue was often constrained by lack of funding and a sense of inadequate support from higher levels of government. To offset inevitable funding constraints, capacity-building efforts could emphasize cohesive regional approaches that leverage opportunities created by cooperation and collaboration among municipalities. Research Objective(1): Document the characteristics of local government that influence capacity for environmental conservation, including: (a) the importance of environmental conservation in relation to other problems; (b) local knowledge and beliefs about environmental conservation; (c) the roles and responsibilities related to environmental conservation local government is required, willing, and/or able to assume as well as other roles and responsibilities, which may compete for its attention? (d) available resources; and (e) relationships with other individuals and organizations. We conducted a set of exploratory interviews with local government officials and other individuals who work with local government in 3 regions of New York State. We completed a web-based survey of local government officials in 3 regions of New York State. In both the interviews and the survey, we collected data about the factors that influence the capacity of local government for environmental conservation. Analysis of the data identified a variety factors influencing local government capacity. These factors can be categorized into four groups: essential resources, community cohesion and support, social networks and leadership, and political legitimacy. These results have led to a change in knowledge about factors that influence local government capacity for environmental conservation. Research Objective (2): Assess how important an influence each of these characteristics has on the capacity of local government to make decisions and take actions to conserve environmental resources. This objective was addressed through the web-based survey of local government officials in 3 regions of New York State (discussed under the previous objective). This survey collected data about the factors that influence the capacity of local government for environmental conservation. The factors most frequently identified as affecting capacity included funding and financial resources at the local level, support (finanical, technical) from county, state, or federal government, knowledge, understanding and expertise among local officals, support from nongovernmental organizations, support from neighboring municipalities, and access to information and data to guide planning. Research Objective (3): Determine how the importance of these characteristics varies for communities responding to different types of environmental changes. This objective was addressed through the web-based survey of local government officials in 3 regions of New York State (discussed under Research Objective 1). This survey collected data about the factors that influence the capacity of local government for environmental conservation. The results suggest local capacity was affected by situational factors and region-specific social and political forces that may necessitate different approaches to capacity building in different contexts. Towns facing long-term threats with uncertain impacts on broad spatial scales (e.g., climate change) may benefit most from: (1) understanding local officials’ perspectives and priorities, and (2) enhancing access to the expertise and resources needed for decision making. Towns addressing more immediate issues with tangible impacts (e.g., open space development) might prioritize needs such as (1) building community consensus, (2) reinforcing collaboration with neighboring municipalities, and (3) implementing proactive policies to address impacts of the environmental issue Extension Objective: (1) Provide guidance about how to increase local government capacity for environmental conservation. This objective was addressed by developing and implementing a prototype workshop for local government officials, state environmental management agency representatives, and nongovernmetnal organization staff members. It was also accomplished by the release of two extension reports.
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Larson, L.R., T.B. Lauber, and D.L. Kay. 2014. Building local capacity to respond to environmental change: lessons and case studies from New York State. CaRDI Reports. Issue Number 16/December 2014.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Larson, L.R., T.B. Lauber, and D.L. Kay. 2014. Building local capacity to respond to environmental change: lessons from New York State. CaRDI Research & Policy Brief Series. Issue Number 63/December 2014.
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Progress 10/01/12 to 09/30/13
Outputs
Target Audience:
Nothing Reported
Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The results were disseminated to university researchers and natural resource professionals through a conference presentation at the International Symposium on Society and Resource Management. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? In the final phase of the project, we hope to provide guidance to government officials as well as the agencies and organizations who work with them about how to increase local capacity for environmental governance. To accomplish this, we will complete our analysis of the interview and survey data. Then, we will design and implement a prototype training module and/or workshop for local government officials, working in collaboration with other stakeholders. This outreach will be informed by the results of our research. In addition, we will present our research results through both written materials (reports and peer-reviewed publications) and presentations targeting stakeholder and academic audiences.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Local governments face an array of challenges related to environmental conservation. Though local actors typically have some authority to manage natural resources, the extent of their influence is often dwarfed by ecological and social forces that transcend geographical and political boundaries. These forces vary widely in type, scope, and rate, and include issues such as shifting land use patterns, energy use and development, and climate change. To better understand how local governments operate in this dynamic context, we are examining and identifying an array of factors that influence local government’s capacity to adapt and respond to environmental change. During the previous reporting period, we identified environmental issues of significance in three regions of New York State. The issues selected were climate change in the Adirondacks, loss of open space due to residential and commercial development in the Hudson Valley, and natural gas development in the Southern Tier. During this reporting period, we conducted interviews with 23 local government officials and 31 other individuals who work closely with local government across all three regions. We are in the midst of analyzing the data to find out what factors are influencing local government’s capacity to respond to environmental changes. We also conducted a web-based survey of local elected officials in our three study regions. The survey gathered information about how important environmental issues were to local officials, local attitudes toward environmental management, local actions that have been taken to address environmental issues, and factors affecting the ability of towns to respond to environmental change. We received responses from nearly 250 towns. Research Objective(1): Document the characteristics of local government that influence capacity for environmental conservation, including: (a) the importance of environmental conservation in relation to other problems; (b) local knowledge and beliefs about environmental conservation; (c) the roles and responsibilities related to environmental conservation local government is required, willing, and/or able to assume as well as other roles and responsibilities, which may compete for its attention; (d) available resources; and (e) relationships with other individuals and organizations. We conducted a set of exploratory interviews with local government officials and other individuals who work with local government in 3 regions of New York State. We completed a web-based survey of local government officials in 3 regions of New York State. In both the interviews and the survey, we collected data about the factors that influence the capacity of local government for environmental conservation. The survey data have not been analyzed yet. Preliminary analysis of the interview data identified a variety factors influencing local government capacity. These factors can be categorized into four groups: essential resources, community cohesion and support, social networks and leadership, and political legitimacy. These results have led to a change in knowledge about factors that influence local government capacity for environmental conservation. Research Objective (2): Assess how important an influence each of these characteristics has on the capacity of local government to make decisions and take actions to conserve environmental resources. This objective will be addressed through the web-based survey of local government officials in 3 regions of New York State (discussed under the previous objective). This survey collected data about the factors that influence the capacity of local government for environmental conservation. The survey data have not been analyzed yet, but we will assess the relationship between factors that could influence capacity and indicators of capacity. Research Objective (3): Determine how the importance of these characteristics varies for communities responding to different types of environmental changes. This objective will be addressed through the web-based survey of local government officials in 3 regions of New York State (discussed under Research Objective 1). This survey collected data about the factors that influence the capacity of local government for environmental conservation. The survey data have not been analyzed yet, but we will compare factors affecting local government capacity in 3 regions of New York State responding to different types of environmental issues. Extension Objective: (1) Provide guidance about how to increase local government capacity for environmental conservation. This objective was not addressed during this reporting period, but will be addressed during the next project period by developing and implementing a prototype training module/workshop for local government officials.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Larson, L. R., Lauber, T. B., & Kay, D. L. (2013). Factors influencing local government capacity to respond to environmental change: case studies in New York State. International Symposium on Society and Resource Management. Estes Park, CO: June 4-8, 2013.
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Progress 10/01/11 to 09/30/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Local governments face an array of challenges related to environmental conservation. Though local actors typically have some authority to manage natural resources, the extent of their influence is often dwarfed by ecological and social forces that transcend geographical and political boundaries. These forces vary widely in type, scope, and rate, and include issues such as shifting land use patterns, energy use and development, and climate change. To better understand how local governments operate in this dynamic context, we examine and identify an array of factors that influence local government's capacity to adapt and respond to environmental change. Our goals are to: (1) Identify environmental changes that may be affecting communities in three regions of upstate New York (Adirondacks, Hudson Valley, and Southern Tier), (2) Characterize the types of local actions that are or could be taken to respond to these changes, (3) Describe the factors that influence local capacity to respond to these changes, and (4) Provide information and recommendations to help communities and local governments manage environmental resources. Project activities to date include the hiring of a postdoctoral research associate (Lincoln Larson) to carry out the work and a series of meetings with our project collaborators to identify environmental issues of significance in our target regions. Through this collaborative effort, the issues selected were climate change in the Adirondacks (global issue of relatively recent origin with uncertain impacts), natural area development in the Hudson Valley (regional issue that has been around for years with relatively predictable impacts), and gas drilling in the Southern Tier (localized issue of very recent origin with highly polarized impacts). After identification of the key environmental issues, collaborators helped the researchers locate key informants and potential interview participants associated with local and regional governments in each area. We have since conducted over 40 interviews with participants (at least 17 in each region) who represent a diverse array of perspectives in local decision-making processes (e.g., town supervisors, town board members, planning board members, planning consultants, environmental management council members, and other special interest groups). Qualitative data analysis is underway, and findings about factors influencing local government's capacity to respond to environmental changes are beginning to emerge (see Outcomes/Impacts). The qualitative data will be used to inform the development of a quantitative survey instrument to be distributed to elected officials in the three study regions. The survey is scheduled to be implemented in Spring 2013. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals: Bruce Lauber (PI) and David Kay (co-PI) have provided intellectual and administrative oversight and supervised postdoctoral researcher Lincoln Larson. Larson conducted interviews of local government officials and affiliates. Larson, Lauber, and Kay are currently working to develop and implement a survey of elected officials in the three study regions. The entire research team continues working to foster collaborative relationships with our partner organizations. Collaborators & Partner Organizations: Heidi Krester (Cornell University Department of Natural Resources & Wildlife Conservation Society), Laura Heady (Cornell Cooperative Extension & New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation), Karen Strong (Cornell Cooperative Extension & New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation). TARGET AUDIENCES: Our primary target audiences and beneficiaries of this work include local government officials, state environmental management agencies, conservation nongovernmental organizations, and New York State residents who use and value environmental resources. Local government officials will better understand how their activities relate to environmental resource conservation, recognize the factors that influence their capacity to address conservation needs, generate new ideas for increasing that capacity, and build relationships with Cornell researchers and extension personnel. State agencies and nongovernmental organizations working with local government officials will better appreciate the opportunities and constraints that officials face when trying to address issues that influence environmental resource conservation. They will also improve their appreciation of how they can contribute to local government capacity. Residents of New York State communities will benefit as the capacity of local government officials to contribute to conservation of environmental resources increases. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Interview data are beginning to yield some important insights into how communities have responded to social and ecological changes that influence environmental resources and the factors influencing local government capacity to respond to these changes. For example, key factors affecting capacity across geographical contexts appear to include the existence and cultivation of issue awareness and shared concern, the development of common goals and a shared community vision, access to essential resources (e.g., technical, financial, and human resources), limitations imposed by political context (e.g., election cycles and administrative structures), effective leadership, and social networks that facilitate collaboration at the town, county, and regional level. As the research progresses and survey implementation and analysis is completed, our study should both increase understanding of the factors that contribute to local government capacity for management and protection of local environmental resources and identify ways in which that capacity may be built. Early outcomes suggest that these may include may include strategies for cultivating relationships between local government and other organizations, creating forums for open dialogue between stakeholders, gaining authority to implement particular actions, increasing coordination between organizations working towards interrelated objectives, developing or gaining access to new sources of information, increasing available funding, identifying organizations or individuals to assist with efforts, and increasing knowledge about how to carry out conservation actions. Ultimately, we hope to provide guidance about how to increase local government capacity for environmental conservation to local government officials and agencies and organizations who work with them. To accomplish this, we will design and implement a prototype training module and/or workshop for local government officials by engaging and working in conjunction with the New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation and other stakeholders. This outreach will be informed by the results of our research. In addition, we will present our research results through both written materials (reports and peer-reviewed publications) and presentations targeting stakeholder and academic audiences. The particular format of these products will be determined in consultation with our collaborators over the course of the project and will likely include practitioner workshops and corresponding guides where we present research results, discuss practical implications of these results, and develop recommendations for building and maintaining local capacity for environmental resource governance.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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