Question 8 Explain the role of ‘Public Participation’ in environmental assessment. Give example.
The public means one or more natural or legal persons and in accordance with national legislation or practice, their associations, organizations or groups (Aarhus, 1998). According to Nicola H. and Christoper W. (2004) stated that public participation is a fundamental component of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process. EIA should consist consultation and participation. Another reliable resource also define the concept of EIA, according to Ciaran O. (2009) stated public participation is defined here as any form of interaction between government and corporate actors and the public that occurs as part of EIA processes. Meanwhile, another understanding regarding to public participation is necessary for minimizing or avoiding public controversy, confrontation and delay also can making a positive contribution to the EIA process (Clark, 1994). According to Clark (1994) suggested the role of public participant in EIA has very serious responsibility to carry out such as helping to integrate economic, social and environmental objectives for example move towards more sustainable development by acting as a device to strengthen and increase public awareness of the delicate balance between economic and environmental trade-offs. The role of public participant in EIA consider as huge scope to be discuss but it responsibility should be understand by many level. In the participation as input for decision makers, it can be explain into four (4) different scope as mention below; i. Public participation as provision of information
The public will involve in EIA as receiver (recipients) of information with decision makers providing the public with the information of proposed projects or activities and their expected impact on particular groups and localities. Some cases, an information provision can be important in allowing operative groups to prepare for project impacts. It may be an essential prior condition (prerequisite) for the following purposes; (i) involve transmission of information to decision makers by the public and (ii) may assist in securing the smooth implementation of projects or programs. ii. Filling information gaps
In many cases the desire to achieve or enhance public participation in EIA reflects a belief that it is required so that decision makers in government and corporations have access to full and robust information on impacted ecologies and populations, on the nature of impacts and on the likely efficacy of mitigative strategies. In the approach public participation is designed essentially to ensure that all relevant information, including input from those affected, is available so that the decision-maker can make the most informed and well-considered decision. The information may involved may relate existing ecological or social conditions where the public participant should gain accurate demographic data on the population that would affected by resumption of agricultural and industrial development. Decision makers also make judgements regarding the significance of predicted impacts and the risks associated with development alternatives. In this regard knowledge regarding the aspirations and values of affected populations is critical and public participation may be required to obtained this information. It may also be essential to provide decision makers with information about the distribution of costs and benefits from proposed projects, allowing them to undertake what many analysts regard as a critical component of EIA, calculation of the political consequences of alternative decision might be taken.

iii. Information contestability
Decision makers may wish not simply to extract specific types of information from potentially affected people but may wish to create contestability in relation to a wide range of information on projects and expected impacts. EIA reports that represent a critical input into public decision making are generally prepare by proponents (own consultants). Public participation can be indispensable if proponent information is to be contested and if alternative to those favoured by the proponent are to be properly scrutinized. For instance, engineers or economists are likely to emphasis the concrete and the quantifiable, and so are likely to focus and privilege certain types of impact and ignore others.

iv. Problem solving and social learning
Public participation may be sought by decision makers not just as a ways of obtaining information or testing its robustness but also to assist with problem solving by suggesting ideas, concepts solutions an resources that can be mobilized to address complex environmental and social issues. Public participation can be a source of creativity and innovation , allowing decision makers to draw on alternatives that are not present in their existing array of responses. Another approach involves the concept of social and organizational learning, in which stakeholders work together, sharing information to identify effective, socially acceptable strategies to mitigate impacts and identify opportunities. According to Sinclair et al. (2008) claimed collective learning and the social mobilization that can accompany it are required to achieve the perspective transformation necessary for changing sustainable resource use patterns and to address response to the sustainability imperative. Social leaning by definition involves a flow of ideas that is not unidirectional. However, when it is undertake as in input into decision making located elsewhere, the public’s contribution of ideas and potential solutions, while possibly offering opportunities for acquiring scientific, technical and social knowledge, does not allow it to determine which solution will be adopted, social learning can also take other forms where public participation does involve a degree of control over decision making.
In conclusion, the overall aim of the role of public participation in environmental decision-making are clearly outlined in the preamble which states effective public participation in the taking of decision enable the public to express and the decision-maker to take account of opinions and concerns which may be relevant to those decisions, thereby increasing the accountability and transparency of the decision-making process and contributing to public awareness of environmental issues and support for the decisions taken.

References 1. Ciaran O. (2009). Public Participant and Environmental Impact Assessment: Purposes, Implications, and Lessons for Public Policy Making. Department of Politics and Public Policy, Griffith Business School, Griffith University, Australia. Published in Elsevier Journal. 2. Aarhus D. (1998). Convention on Access to Information, Public Participant in Decision Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters. Publisher unknown. 3. Nicole H. and Cristopher W. (2005). Public Participation in Environmental Impact Assessment –Implementing the Aarhus Convention. School of Environment and Development, University of Manchester, United Kingdom. Published in Elsevier Journal. 4. Clark (1994). The Role of Public Participation in Environmental Impact Assessment Process. Publisher unknown. Website Address : http://www.biodiversity.ru/coastlearn/pp-eng/ppandeia.html