The relationship between knowledge and community engagement in local urban forest governance: A case study examining the role of resident association members in Mississauga, Canada

《The relationship between knowledge and community engagement in local urban forest governance: A case study examining the role of resident association members in Mississauga, Canada》

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作者: Sadia Butt;Sandy M. Smith;Faisal Moola;Tenley M. Conway

来源: URBAN FORESTRY & URBAN GREENING,Vol.60,Issue1,Article 127054

语言: 英文

关键字: Urban forest governance;Urban forest knowledge;Social capital;Neighbourhood urban forest;Community engagement

作者单位: University of Toronto, Graduate Department of Forestry, University of Toronto, 33 Willcocks, Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3B3, Canada;Graduate Department of Forestry, University of Toronto, 33 Willcocks, Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3B3, Canada;Geography, Environment & Geomatics, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada;Department of Geography, University of Toronto, 3359 Mississauga Road North, Mississauga, ON, L5L 1C6, Canada;University of Toronto, Graduate Department of Forestry, University of Toronto, 33 Willcocks, Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3B3, Canada;Graduate Department of Forestry, University of Toronto, 33 Willcocks, Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3B3, Canada;Geography, Environment & Geomatics, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada;Department of Geography, University of Toronto, 3359 Mississauga Road North, Mississauga, ON, L5L 1C6, Canada

摘要: Urban forests, integral to a city’s critical infrastructure, are traditionally under the mandate of local governments, yet in reality, the decision-making for their conservation is influenced by a myriad of factors operating at the neighbourhood level. In some neighbourhoods, decisions are heavily influenced by formal Resident Associations (RAs). Using a case study approach, in-depth interviews were conducted with selected engaged and committed RA members in Mississauga, Canada to determine: 1) What is the role of urban forest knowledge in motivating people to engage with their local community group, i.e., how does knowledge play a role in developing a critical consciousness that leads to action? 2) How does an individual’s knowledge shape strategies used by the community group? and 3) How can we characterize the knowledge of community group leaders in terms of urban forest governance? Our study shows that knowledge is embodied in all roles that RA executive members take on and that it is key in motivating their engagement. The critical role of ‘knowing ‘was also clear in the ability of RAs to develop and establish local-level strategies that help conserve urban forests. Based on our research, it is clear that RAs and local governments (individually and/or collectively) can enhance the knowledge of residents at the neighbourhood level to improve engagement. We recommend that RA members engage via an ongoing collaborative knowledge building process to become better equipped at confronting urban forest management practices and impacting urban forest governance.