Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Urban forestry is important for environmental and social reasons. Urban forestry helps reconnect humans with nature and public participation can assist in this. However, methods to evaluate the effectiveness of these participation processes are sparse. Therefore, this thesis set out to enhance the impact of public participation by examining how such processes can be evaluated in the context of urban forestry.
To guide the study, the following research question (RQ) has been formulated: What study designs, frameworks or indicators can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of public participation processes in urban forestry governance? This RQ is answered through 3 sub questions, regarding study designs, indicators and frameworks used to evaluate public participation. A literature review was conducted and the results are presented in flowcharts and common indicators of effective public participation processes. Key findings include that: there was no clear distinction between study designs in what was studied, no frameworks were consistently used. Six indicators of effective public participation processes and how to evaluate these are presented. These can be used in future research to apply in actual participation processes worldwide.