Engaging Stakeholders in Managing Common Pool Resources

Module Overview

Schedules

This final session of the LEAD Europe Fellows Training Programme 2007 was a highly practical training event drawing together knowledge, skills and experience built up over the previous modules.

A diverse participant group of motivated professionals (LEAD Associates) interacted directly with local stakeholders on both mature and emerging development issues in the Lake Balaton region through site visits and meetings. They were invited to present their recommendations back to local decision-makers including the Lake Balaton Development Coordination Agency at a public meeting hosted by the Mayor of Balatonalmadi. 

Associates worked in teams to gather information and prepare their presentations in just two days, testing their ability to engage and synthesise multiple points of view and communicate a coherent message to a diverse audience.

Case Study on common pool resource management in the Lake Balaton region (2005)

LEAD Europe Associates were invited by the Lake Balaton Development Coordination Agency to input on two issues:

1. Marina development along the lake shoreline

This is something that almost everyone in the region has an opinion on! The conflicts are well established and understood between profit-making developers, conservationists wishing to protect the environment, and local people who value both natural beauty and local employment. However, there is still no agreement on where to draw the line for continued development.

2. Climate Change Adaptation

Water is of course a high-priority and very visible issue in a lake region. Warmer temperatures and lower rainfall in the Balaton area over recent years has begun to change the way the land can be used, and as Lake Balaton is known for being particularly shallow, relatively small fluctuations in water levels have significant effects.

While professionals in the region are aware of climate change and concerned about it's potential impacts, there are currently few strong messages around action and adptation responses.