City Planner, Mediator, and MIT Professor

Environment and Sustainability Negotiation Role-Play: Puerto Mauricio Development Conflict Simulation – Parts I & II Multiple stakeholders must engage in a debate about land use and measure any agreement against the rules of an inter-governmental committe

Title:

Environment and Sustainability Negotiation Role-Play: Puerto Mauricio Development Conflict Simulation – Parts I & II Multiple stakeholders must engage in a debate about land use and measure any agreement against the rules of an inter-governmental committe
Publication Type
:
Miscellaneous
Year of Publication
:
1998

Authors:

Lawrence Susskind
Mieke van der Wansem
Tracy Dyke
Publication Language
:
eng
Abstract
:
Thirteen-person, multi-issue, two-round, partially scoreable negotiation among government, industry, environmental, and farming stakeholders to develop a land-use plan (Part I) and among additional government stakeholders over plan approval (Part II)
Citation Key
:
125

Part I: The coastal town of Puerto Mauricio is faced with a number of important development decisions. First, a large and cultural significant parcel of land is about to be sold. The two potential purchasers are a national environmental group and a local hotel owner – who plan to use the land is very different ways. At the same time, the environmental group is lobbying to destroy a nearby dam to preserve a surrounding estuary – much to the dismay of the local farmers who depend on the dam for irrigation. Finally, a high-tech firm is seeking to develop a nearby parcel of land and their plans involve bringing in light industry to this region. Stakeholders in this matter are coming together to see if they can reach an agreement on developments plans for the area. It is important that any agreement fits within the constructs of the Provincial Land Use Plan and National Sustainability Principles.

Part II: The agreement from Part I is sent to an inter-governmental committee charged with implementing the National Sustainability Principles. The five-person committee meets with three representatives from Puerto Mauricio. The parties negotiate about how to interpret implications of the Sustainability Principles for the Puerto Mauricio Development Proposal. Ultimately, the government committee must decide whether to accept the Proposal and to write a press release to explain their decision to the public.