Assignment task:
Think about skill inventory for a wildlife biologist and discussion on biases.
Answer the following questions:
How can you use your strengths and what you know about communication and biases to prepare yourself for productive engagement with interested and affected parties (IAPs)?
Reflect on which IAPs from the scenario you may resonate with and which you may have a more difficult time relating to. Explain. Need Assignment Help?
Scenario:
Seaview, North Carolina is in a region of the eastern U.S. known for its stunning shoreline and charismatic marine fauna, which attract tourists from around the world. Seaview occupies 29.3 square miles and has approximately 2.1 miles of shoreline. The population of Seaview has grown in the last decade from 16,025 to over 22,000, outpacing the national average, in part because of the beauty and relative affordability of the area. Annually, Seaview sees 250,000 tourists. Their high season for tourism is from April through November. There are many sustainability changes facing the area including pollution from local activities, overfishing, climate change, and encroachment to natural areas both on and off shore.
Local activities, including tourism, hog farming, and residential development, have led to increased pollution in Seaview. Hog farming is an important agricultural activity that takes place in the more rural inland areas to the west of the city. Hog farms often use lagoons and spray field methods for waste disposal, producing significant quantities of manure, which can overflow and contaminate water sources, including tributaries of the Aucummato River, which is the source of public water for Seaview and many surrounding towns. The hog farms are located upriver from Seaview, so the runoff carries pollutants into the town's waterways, leading to water quality issues and algal blooms that impact not only the public water supply but also recreational water use. Residents and tourists of Seaview have complained about dead fish washing up on the beaches during algal blooms. Waste from hotels and restaurants also contribute to water quality issues through leaking gray water in old sewer infrastructure. Because the quality of available freshwater is under threat, water security is an issue of concern for human and ecological systems. The increase in population and tourist activity has also contributed to additional solid waste. Town residents are concerned about potential contamination of the groundwater and river from the municipal landfill, which is located only a few miles outside of Seaview to the west of the Aucummato River and to the north of the hog farms.
The hog farms are an economically and culturally important industry for North Carolina. Additionally, many locals and tourists enjoy fresh pork products at a very reasonable price. The annual Pork BBQ Festival is a popular event for residents and attracts a lot of tourists at the end of the summer. Not all residents are keen on hog farming though, especially as the hog farms are concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs; large-scale animal feeding operations in a small area that often struggle to find a balance between animal welfare and profits). The odors and hazardous chemicals emitted from hog farms often cause respiratory issues and health problems among residents who live near the farms. These farms are also concentrated geographically in poor and minority communities, many of whom lack the political and economic power to demand safer regulations. However, hog farming employs many residents, providing wages that are higher than most other employment opportunities in the Seaview area.
Seaview has a high level of marine diversity, making it a hotspot for fishing. Overfishing has now become a significant issue, depleting fish stocks and disrupting the marine ecosystem. This not only threatens the livelihood of local fishermen but also impacts the food chain and the overall health of the ocean. Climate change is impacting the marine food web as marine species shift north to escape rising ocean temperatures. Rising sea levels and increased storm frequency and intensity threaten the town's infrastructure (including roads, homes, and businesses) and natural habitats close to the shoreline. Coastal erosion, driven by higher sea levels and stronger storms, is already affecting the shoreline, leading to the loss of beaches and wetlands that serve as crucial buffers against storm surges.
Due to its scenic location and affordability, Seaview is experiencing rapid population growth and development. This has resulted in the built environment (e.g., homes, roads, infrastructure) encroaching into natural areas both onshore and offshore. Wetlands, dunes, and other critical habitats are being replaced by buildings and roads, disrupting local wildlife and reducing the natural resilience of the coastline to environmental changes.
Within the town of Seaview, there is a designated protected area. This 1100-acre (1.7 mi2) plot of land was recently purchased by a land trust with the goal of providing recreational experiences for residents and visitors while also supporting sustainable development initiatives. Seaview is currently suffering from the effects of overtourism along the shoreline (e.g. traffic, congestion, crowding, lack of parking, littering, noise pollution); creation of a recreational area will hopefully attract visitors inland and lessen the negative impacts of overtourism on the coast. The plot of land contains a mix of habitats. Approximately 60% of the plot is forested with a mixed hardwood forest composition that provides a home to a variety of native flora and fauna. The remaining 40% of the protected area is currently abandoned farmlands. Driven by the 2004 federal buyout program, conventional large-scale tobacco farming ceased on these lands several years ago, in part because degraded soil and water scarcity made alternative crops unprofitable. One point to consider is that tobacco farming has historically been the work of enslaved African Americans. The land trust is concerned that this part of the protected area will not feel like an accessible space to residents and visitors who are members of BIPOC groups. The land trust is open to hearing a variety of development proposals for this plot of land that help Seaview promote sustainability and address local needs.
Like many coastal communities in the US, the area along the Seaview shoreline is more affluent, while the areas inland are poorer. The poorest communities in the county are located in the more rural countryside, outside of the city center. Seaview struggles to address historic marginalizations, especially race. The poorer residents of the area are predominantly people of color. Due to the rapid population growth, there is now a lack of affordable housing for middle- and low-income households. Meanwhile, the shoreline contains numerous large hotels for visitors. New development has focused almost exclusively on tourism development and construction of luxury private residences, a point of tension with residents who would like to see more development aimed at meeting the needs of the working and middle classes.
Tensions between local IAPs have reached an all-time high. As a result, the city is taking a step back to thoughtfully consider the future of Seaview. City officials are soliciting proposals to address current socio-ecological issues and provide a vision for a more sustainable future that balances the needs of all IAPs. As the consultants who have been hired, your team will support Seaview in the Sustainability Initiative Proposal (SIP) development process.