Social aspects of river restoration:or some experiences from my PhD as an interpretive

researcher

Emma Westlinge.l.westling@bradford.ac.uk

Background

PhD – social aspects of river restoration

Public values and perceptions of restored rivers in the north of England Consideration of social objectives in river restoration processes seeking to deliver multiple benefits

“a vibrant water environment for wildlife and people […] by aiming to achieve environmental, social and economic benefits concurrently” (EA, 2006)

“recognising the benefits of water to people, both now and in the future, to use and enjoy” (Defra, 2002)

After

Before

The River Restoration Centre (year unknown)

River restoration practice

• Expert-led exercise• Clear boundaries of roles and responsibilities• Social objectives rarely considered• Passive rather than active public engagement

Missed opportunities to understand relationships between environmental improvements and public values

A willingness to be involved

“It is always nice to be asked what you think it would be like or have you got any ideas to put forward. Just to be told what’s happening would be good rather than just see a load of bulldozers arrive and start ripping the flood banks apart and not knowing what’s happening.”

I'm even sure that local people would get involved in caring for the river. I think sometimes it's about giving it (the river) back to the people isn’t it?”

“I should imagine a lot of people would be interested in what’s happening down in the river because a lot of people in the village use the river.”

Unpacking values and aspirations

• Public engagement – key to river restoration success and multifunctional riverine environments

• Complex web of factors underpinning perceptions and values of the river

• New ways needed to capture these values and to use the understanding in river restoration design

Interpretive approaches in river restoration planning and implementation

Interpretive research impacting upon river restoration processes

Allow for an open dialogue where opinions can be expressed

Critical evaluation of the expert-led scientific processes

Unpack discourses underpinning public and ‘expert’ values and aspirations about the riverine environment Allow for roles and

responsibilities to be shifted

Impacts so far

Research community

Research colleagues- Interpretive research in an

engineering and ecology context

Publications- Publishing interpretive

research in environmental journals

Practice

Involved in EA/Arup habitat enhancement scheme- Briefing on community values and opinions

Community interviews- Discuss roles and responsibilities of

river management

Opportunities and barriers:interpretive approaches in river restoration

Ideal river restoration schemeRecognise the value of interpretive perspectives alongside positivist

Allow for an open dialogue where a range of perceptions and aspirations were emphasised

Encourage active public engagement throughout and beyond the restoration process

Allow for shift of roles and responsibilities and being open for different types of knowledge

- Facilitate dialogue

- Evaluate process and encourage learning

Role of interpretive researcher:

... or really the role of policy makers and practitioners

Opportunities and barriers:interpretive approaches in river restoration

Lack of interest and capability amongst practitioners

Maintaining traditional power structures

BUT need to recognise that aspirations of multifunctional landscapes are not likely to be met with current approaches

Barriers to overcome (some examples...)

Thank you!