Environmental Mediation Network

The Environmental Mediation Network is a European network established by the partners of the Erasmus+ project “New European Training Curricula for Facilitating Environmental Conflicts.” It brings together organisations specialising in environmental conflict mediation, which collaborated to exchange methodologies, tools, and best practices.

The project’s outcomes have been compiled into two publicly available deliverables, designed to support mediators, public authorities, local governments, and other stakeholders in strengthening their capacity to effectively prevent and manage environmental conflicts.

Project Partners

• LechtAlps (Austria)
• Altekio (Spain)
• Istituto di Ecologia Applicata (Italy)
• Dialogues (Sweden)
• Flow-Ing (France)
• Callisto (Greece)

At the European level, tensions among stakeholders over the use and protection of natural resources are increasing due to climate change and biodiversity loss. The need for environmental mediation as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism has only recently begun to gain recognition in Europe. The first initiatives emerged in the early 2000s, while the most significant case studies have been developed over the past decade. Stakeholders involved in environmental conflicts often lack the skills required for effective conflict management and are frequently unaware of environmental mediation as a means of reducing tensions and reaching constructive solutions.

Against this backdrop, environmental mediation can play a crucial role in:

• Supporting the implementation of environmental policies and increasing stakeholder participation.
• Preventing the escalation of environmental conflicts and reducing social polarisation.
• Promoting social justice in the management and resolution of environmental disputes.

The project partners have jointly developed a range of tools and best practices to help stakeholders strengthen their capacity to manage environmental conflicts effectively.

Building skills for effective dialogue is essential for addressing environmental conflicts. At the same time, participatory environmental resource management strengthens social learning and promotes social justice.

1. Best Practice Toolkit for Environmental Conflict Mediation

Description

This deliverable provides a collection of tools and methods that reflect best practices in environmental conflict mediation. These approaches have either been tested through real-world case studies or are recommended for application in future environmental conflict situations. The toolkit also includes training programmes into which these tools and methods can be integrated, supporting capacity building for mediators and practitioners.

The deliverable is available here.

2. A Transformative Approach to Environmental Conflict Mediation: From Entry Points to Exit Points

Description

This deliverable provides an overview of environmental conflicts and presents different approaches to understanding them. It also explores the conditions under which mediation can have a transformative impact on the social relationships between the parties involved, as well as on the conflict itself.

The deliverable is available here.