Abstract
Introduction:
Stakeholder engagement is a principle that underpins ecological restoration. However, how stakeholder engagement processes are conducted in large part determines the success of their outcomes.
Objectives:
In this systematic review, we investigate how stakeholders are identified and subsequently engaged in the marine and coastal restoration peer-reviewed literature.
Methods:
To conduct this systematic review, we selected articles from two electronic databases with broad coverage relevant to the topic of marine restoration: Scopus and Web of Science. Following the PRISMA framework, we analyzed 538 articles, deeming 54 of them relevant for the review.
Results:
Two bodies of literature emerged from our analysis: articles where scholars investigate stakeholders' perceptions of restoration or aspects of restoration (e.g. techniques, governance) and articles where scholars describe stakeholders' participation in restoration projects and planning. Across these two bodies of literature, we found key similarities and differences with respect to stakeholder identification and engagement practice. Importantly, we found that scholars investigating stakeholders' perceptions of restoration are more likely to provide information about stakeholder identification and engagement methods than scholars describing stakeholders' participation in restoration.
Conclusions:
As stakeholder engagement is a key principle underpinning restoration, it is important for scholars to be transparent about how stakeholders are identified and engaged. Transparency highlights how inclusive a process is and promotes learning for future restoration projects working to engage stakeholders.
Stakeholder engagement is a principle that underpins ecological restoration. However, how stakeholder engagement processes are conducted in large part determines the success of their outcomes.
Objectives:
In this systematic review, we investigate how stakeholders are identified and subsequently engaged in the marine and coastal restoration peer-reviewed literature.
Methods:
To conduct this systematic review, we selected articles from two electronic databases with broad coverage relevant to the topic of marine restoration: Scopus and Web of Science. Following the PRISMA framework, we analyzed 538 articles, deeming 54 of them relevant for the review.
Results:
Two bodies of literature emerged from our analysis: articles where scholars investigate stakeholders' perceptions of restoration or aspects of restoration (e.g. techniques, governance) and articles where scholars describe stakeholders' participation in restoration projects and planning. Across these two bodies of literature, we found key similarities and differences with respect to stakeholder identification and engagement practice. Importantly, we found that scholars investigating stakeholders' perceptions of restoration are more likely to provide information about stakeholder identification and engagement methods than scholars describing stakeholders' participation in restoration.
Conclusions:
As stakeholder engagement is a key principle underpinning restoration, it is important for scholars to be transparent about how stakeholders are identified and engaged. Transparency highlights how inclusive a process is and promotes learning for future restoration projects working to engage stakeholders.