About the Roster
Welcome to the National Roster of Environmental Conflict Resolution (ECR) Professionals
The National Roster of Dispute Resolution and Consensus Building Professionals is a searchable database of over 300 experienced professionals who resolve environmental disputes and support collaborative solutions to complex public issues. Mediate.com and the Association for Conflict Resolution – Environment and Public Policy (ACR-EPP) Section jointly administer this online roster. The roster provides ready access to information on experienced environmental conflict resolution and consensus building professionals around the country.
History of the Roster
The Roster was initially developed as a partnership between the National Center (then named the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and environmental collaboration and conflict resolution (ECR) practitioners, among others. Countless hours and resources have been invested to develop, maintain, and advance the Roster application and to maintain member profiles and information. Since its inception in 1998, more than 300 members have joined the Roster, which has served as a resource for representatives of Federal, Tribal, and State governments; nongovernmental organizations; industry; academia; and the public.
This Roster is an important tool in the ECR field. Changes in federal rules necessitated the change in roster administration, which migrated administration away from the National Center to Mediate.com and ACR-EPP. The National Center remains a strong advocate for the use of ECR approaches in the Federal Government and, as appropriate, will continue to provide facilitation, mediation, assessment, and capacity-building services to Federal agencies and their partners. Work conducted under contract by private and university-based ECR practitioners has been critical to the National Center’s ability to provide ECR support to agencies across the Federal Government.
About ECR
Environmental Conflict Resolution is essential in a wide variety of complex disputes, including those requiring scientific and technical expertise. Common applications of ECR include:
Energy
ECR can be highly effective in resolving energy disputes, especially when it comes to issues related to the exploration and use of fossil fuels. Energy disputes can be highly contentious and can involve multiple stakeholders, including industry players, governments, and local communities. By using environmental conflict resolution techniques, these parties can come together to find mutually beneficial solutions that consider the needs of all involved. This can involve exploring alternative energy sources, designing sustainable energy policies, and developing innovative technologies that reduce environmental impacts. By taking a collaborative approach to energy disputes, environmental conflict resolution can help reduce tensions and promote sustainable energy development that benefits everyone involved.
Forests
ECR can also play a crucial role in resolving forestry disputes, which often arise due to conflicting interests and values regarding the use and management of forest resources. Conflict can arise around logging and deforestation, land rights and indigenous communities, infrastructure projects, agricultural expansion, wildlife conservation, human-wildlife conflict, forest management, fire control, and forest certification and sustainable forest management (such as disagreements over the implementation and effectiveness of certification schemes, such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). By bringing stakeholders together and creating a forum for dialogue and problem-solving, environmental conflict resolution can help to promote sustainable forestry practices, protect biodiversity, and ensure that the needs and interests of all stakeholders are considered and respected.
Climate
ECR can be particularly useful in disputes around climate impacts, where solutions affect multiple parties, requiring coordinated efforts across various sectors and jurisdictions. Some examples of disputes that can arise as a result of climate change include water scarcity, food security, climigration and displacement, access to clean energy, geoengineering (such as solar radiation management or carbon dioxide removal), and land use disputes. By facilitating dialogue and cooperation between different stakeholders, ECR experts can help to build trust and consensus around climate action, leading to more effective and sustainable outcomes. Ultimately, by fostering more collaborative and inclusive approaches to addressing climate change, collaborative solutions can promote a more equitable and resilient future for stakeholders.
Wildlife
Disputes are inevitable when competing interests, such as human activities and wildlife conservation efforts, collide. By utilizing ECR, parties can work towards a collaborative solution that addresses the needs and interests of all stakeholders. This may involve identifying and implementing measures to reduce the impacts of human activities on wildlife habitats, or exploring alternative approaches to wildlife management that promote conservation while also accommodating human activities. ECR can address wildlife disputes in a way that is both socially and environmentally responsible, promoting long-term sustainability for wildlife populations and their habitats.
Farming
ECR can play a crucial role in resolving farming disputes by providing a framework for dialogue and negotiation between the agricultural industry and environmental advocates. As agriculture and land use are closely intertwined with environmental resources, such as water, soil, and wildlife habitats, conflicts often arise between farmers over resource use and management. Common conflicts include water resources, pesticide use, deforestation, the use of genetically modified (GMO) crops, soil degradation, livestock farming, wetland drainage, monoculture, government subsidies, and land rights. ECR can help farmers and stakeholders find mutually beneficial solutions by encouraging dialogue, fostering relationships, and exploring shared interests.