The Effective Measurement of Participation: An Instrument for Environmental Governance

The present article aims to introduce the proposal of the General Effective Participation Index (GEPI) as a strategy for assessing the quality of participation in environmental planning instruments. The GEPI is derived from a relational system of variables associated with participation in environmental matters, composed of four equally weighted dimensions and 22 variables. These dimensions originate from the conceptual development of the Environmental Territorial Governance Model (ETGM), which aims to enhance participation in environmental management through four dimensions: democracy, governance, governance, and environmental territorial governance. The measurement was conducted using a census-type primary data collection instrument, with 343 effective surveys collected. As a result of the measurement, it is determined that the GEPI in the four analyzed plans is at a medium level. It is observed that participation and the conditions for its activation are robust in the initial stages of the development of environmental planning processes, but adjustments in procedures are required to facilitate control and monitoring. In this way, an understanding of the quality of participation enables the environmental authority to make adjustments in the implementation processes of the outlined plans.