Publications

IEN Brochure

The IEN Brochure describes the philosophy, issues, services, and key programs of the Institute. To Download or View as a PDF, Click Here

Reclaiming Our Food: How the Grassroots Food Movement is Changing What We Eat

Tanya Denckla Cobb (October 2011: Storey Publishing) A quiet revolution is taking place: People across the United States are turning toward local food. Some are doing it because they want more nutritious, less-processed food; some want to preserve the farmland and rural character of their regions; some fear interruptions to the supply of non-local food; some want to support their local economy; and some want safer food with less threat of contamination. But this revolution comes with challenges. Reclaiming Our Food tells the stories of … Continue reading →

Reaching for Higher Ground

By E. Franklin Dukes, John Stephens, Marina Piscolish (2009: BookSurge Publishing) A hands-on manual for learning the leadership skills that take you beyond compromise to higher ground. In this visionary book, the authors present their challenging, innovative and principled approach to problem solving within groups. Reaching for Higher Ground is filled with the practical information and illustrative examples that group leaders and conflict resolution leaders would need to achieve extraordinary outcomes with any group. Reaching for Higher Ground In conflict resolution few groups harness the … Continue reading →

Collaboration: A Guide for Environmental Advocates (UVA, 2001)

The IEN, in partnership with the National Audubon Society and The Wilderness Society, has published a new handbook to assist environmental advocates in determining whether and how to effectively participate in collaborative decision-making. The 80-page guide, Collaboration: A Guide for Environmental Advocates, was written by IEN’s Frank Dukes and Karen Firehock and was funded by a grant from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. The guide was conceived in response to the rapidly expanding use of collaborative processes to address environmental issues as well as … Continue reading →

Central Chemical Superfund Redevelopment Initiative Pilot Project Final Report

The Central Chemical Superfund Redevelopment Project was established as an eight-month, community-based reuse planning process funded by a pilot grant from EPA’s Superfund Redevelopment Initiative (SRI). The process was managed by a community Land Use Committee, an 18-member body that met nine times and interacted with the larger community during a series of three public meetings. The City of Hagerstown’s Planning Department served as the project’s sponsor and developed an impact analysis of reuse alternatives at the site. This report presents the project’s land use … Continue reading →

Community Mediation Center Study

(2001) The Virginia Association for Community Conflict Resolution (VACCR), funded by the National Association for Community Mediation (NAFCM), contracted with the Institute for Environmental Negotiation (IEN) at the University of Virginia to conduct a study of community mediation in Virginia for three purposes: (1) To document the services, benefits, and funding of community mediation programs throughout the United States; (2) To identify services provided by Virginia’s community mediation centers; and (3)To identify funding options to sustain and strengthen community mediation in Virginia. To Download (right-click, … Continue reading →

Community Watershed Forums (Rockfish River, Nelson County, Virginia and the Anacostia River, Washington, D.C.)

(2000 – 2001) The Institute worked in partnership with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay to design a public education and involvement process to help community groups devise watershed action plans though a series of community watershed forums. In the Rockfish River Watershed, IEN facilitated a multi-stakeholder advisory group to design the process and public involvement forums. The advisory group included interests from the chamber of commerce, the Farm Bureau, Rural Nelson, county and town agencies, conservation groups and others. The forums included education sessions … Continue reading →

Rivanna Watershed Needs Assessment

(2001-2002) The goal of the RWNA was to identify and assess opportunities, strategies, and mechanisms for improving the protection of the Rivanna Riverand its watershed. During Phase One, IEN conducted 22 confidential interviews with various state, local, and regional agencies, community groups, and non-profits that have been actively engaged in water resource management and protection in the Rivanna watershed. Phase Two consisted of convening the Rivanna Watershed Symposium on February 16, 2002 to discuss the results of Phase One and explore future collaborative scenarios. Following … Continue reading →

Blue Crab Stakeholder Perspectives

Developed an analysis of the complex issues and different stakeholder perspectives involved in blue crab management conflict in the Chesapeake Bay. Published an report called, “The Commons Trap and Fishery Deliberations.” To Download or view as a .pdf, Click Here

Heritage Tourism Project

(2002) The IEN was asked to design and facilitate a process for engaging citizens in the five counties to develop a Heritage Tourism map. The map will include historical, cultural and environmental sites, events, and facilities that will entice heritage tourists to see and do more in the region. An IEN team of Tanya Denckla and Karen Firehock, assisted by Wanda SanJule, developed stakeholder “Heritage Tourism teams” in each of the five counties. These teams developed categories for possible heritage tourism sites and events, and … Continue reading →

Consensus Building for Richmond’s Bryan Park Area

(1998 – 1999) In a two-year effort the IEN facilitated and mediated a consensus building effort for the Bryan Park Interchange Advisory Committee (BPIAC). BPIAC was convened by the Virginia Department of Transportation to provide citizen input on how it would deal with the increasingly congested intersection of I-95 and I-64 through the next 20 years. The project is seen by some as a new experiment in the way VDOT engages citizens in public involvement. BPIAC concluded its work in October 1999 with a consensus … Continue reading →

Biosolids Land Application

(Several years) Over several years, IEN was asked to facilitate public meetings concerning the permitting of land application of biosolids. IEN facilitated an public informational meeting for Culpeper County, and later public meetings for the Virginia Department of Health in Campbell County and Isle of Wight County.  It also designed and facilitated numerous public meetings on issues such as new zoning ordinance provisions for hog waste lagoons in Halifax County Virginia, repermitting a biosolids lagoon in Goochland County, Virginia, and land application of biosolids in … Continue reading →

The Mediator

The Mediator is published periodically by IEN. It contains news and updates about our projects and faculty. To Download or View as a PDF, Click Here for past issues. Past Mediator Articles Spring 2003; Fall 2002

A Stream Corridor Protection Strategy for Local Governments (UVA, 2002)

This practical guide can help Chesapeake Bay states move toward implementing the many facets of the Chesapeake 2000 Agreement such as the goal of 2,010 more miles of forested buffers by 2010 and a goal of locally devised watershed plans to encompass two thirds of the Bay’s drainage basin. Written in collaboration with local governments, the 63-page handbook contains the cumulative wisdom of the many expert reviewers from across the Bay’s watershed and covers stream protection strategies, tools such as stream buffers and zoning overlays … Continue reading →