Coastal land use conflict identification in a nature reserve: exploration of participatory GIS techniques

Public participation is increasingly encouraged in decision-making as part of a growing shift from government to governance. Participatory GIS is an approach to public participation that relies on ma ps and focuses on community inclusion. Attractive but frag ile ecosystems, coastal urban areas are currently under pressure from climate change-induced sea-leve l rise and urban growth. Plan ning for t he (oast therefore requi res reassessing land uses that were once taken for granted - thus creating conflicts. This thesis investigates Participatory GIS techniques for coasta l land use conflict identification while exploring spatial awareness and map use. The novelty of the thesis resides in the investigation ofthe relationship between GISystems and Participatory GIS, arguing t hat GISystems can support participatory processes at the same time as Participatory GIS can inform map use. The research draws on debates around GIS-based participatory approaches, cartography, sustainable coastal planning, and governance. The discussion is based on extensive fie ldwork, involving the use of th ree custom-deSigned Participat ory GIS techniques (two on-site and one online) inspired by Rapid Rural/Urban Appraisal techniques, as well as stakeholder interviews. The particu lar conflict considered here is a nature reserve in a high-population density, low-lying city where recent coastal management decisions consider abandon ing a man-made terrestria l reserve to the sea to recreate disappearing int ertidal habitats; hereby drastically redu cing t he availability of already scarce open spaces in the city. The thesis invest igates the uses of the reserve by its users and its perceived value to both users and non-users. This is based on their use of local open spaces and their expressed open space and land use valuation. Uses and va lues were used to support inclusive confl ict identification. The thesis argues t hat participation is too often limited to a one-way process, eliciting information with limited feedback. It contends that t he current coastal management process - the Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) in England and Wales - is weakened by its non-statutory aspect, undermining its application. Its role is confined to stee ring debate, falling short in terms of exploring non-consensual issues as it focuses on bu ildi ng sea defences rat her t han taking a holistic approach to shoreline management that would consider both defences and pollution risks. It is also set out of local spatial planning in terms of budget, diminishing its flexibility and therefore impact on a long-term perspective. Finally, the lack of real investment in public flood risk awareness and public participation weakens its legit imacy. The thesis also argues that GISystems participate in knowledge production and 'places' questions into spatial and thematic context; thus Participatory GIS has a great potential to support effect ive participation in land use conflict. Participatory GIS, as a Rapid Rural/Urban Appraisal, therefore has the potential to participate into good governance. 4EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo