ABSTRACT
Trade-off analysis provides a set of techniques and a framework to support inclusive and integrated coastal zone management. It explicitly includes a wide range of stakeholders and their diverse interests, views, knowledge and values in decision-making. It integrates a range of perspectives on coastal resources and evaluates the impacts of different courses of action on different aspects of the economy, ecosystems and society. Trade-off analysis is therefore both a constructive approach, and has the characteristics of a soft systems approach. It overcomes barriers to communication and encourages stakeholders to interact to support decisions as an integral part of coastal decision processes. Trade-off analysis also promotes social learning – how individuals learn to behave and use knowledge in social environments through interaction and deliberation. Building trust and openness, information-sharing and giving stakeholders positive reinforcing feedback are important elements in reducing communication barriers. But, in addition, empowerment can be promoted through opening channels of communication and validating lay input into the process. This chapter explores some of the contextual factors and prerequisites for empowerment and the implementation of a citizen-oriented science for the application of trade-off analysis. First we discuss using the techniques of trade- off analysis as part of conflict-resolution and consensus-building processes. We then discuss the broader institutional factors that support or constrain the application of trade-off analysis and the development of more inclusionary and integrated approaches to natural resource and environmental management. Much of this institutional analysis is illustrated, once more, with respect to Trinidad and Tobago.
