Strategies and tactics for managing environmental conflicts: insights from Goldman Environmental Prize recipients

Abstract

Disputes over minerals, forests, wildlife, water, and other natural resources continue to rise in frequency and intensity across much of the world. Few scholars have described specific approaches to addressing these disputes, and none have done so systematically across multiple locations with a uniform nomenclature. This article fills part of that gap by analyzing approaches taken by Goldman Environmental Prize recipients. Based on 126 cases spanning 78 countries, 21 years, and 588 actions, we classify environmental conflict management strategies and tactics embodied in this rich data set. The resulting typology offers scholars a systematic lexicon for understanding, describing, and comparing conflict management strategies and tactics, with an emphasis on grassroots efforts. It also provides policymakers and practitioners with a rich tool box of proven approaches for addressing natural resource conflicts.

Keywords:

• environmental conflict
• Goldman Environmental Prize
• natural resource disputes

Acknowledgements

We thank Pushpa Iyer, Mara Guccione, Tami Weiss, and Fernando DePaolis for their input into early versions of the manuscript. Special thanks go to the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Foundation for supporting the Goldman Environmental Prize, and to the prize recipients whose work has inspired this paper. These grassroots leaders have blazed many trails to peace; may this article begin the process of developing those little known trails into clear paths for others to follow.