Multi-criteria decision analysis framework for engaging stakeholders in river pollution risk management

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Water Resource Management
• Environmental Policy

Background:

• Water pollution poses significant environmental and health risks.
• Effective management requires integrating scientific, economic, and social considerations.
• South African catchments face challenges in pollution control and risk management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a framework for selecting best management practices (BMPs) for water pollution reduction.
• To incorporate stakeholder perspectives into the BMP selection process for river catchments.
• To assess BMPs based on environmental, economic, and social criteria.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) methodology, specifically the Simple Multi-Attribute Rating Technique for Enhanced Stakeholder Take-up (SMARTEST).
• Conducted a two-stage survey with diverse stakeholders (users, municipalities, scientists, NGOs, engineers) to gather data on BMPs and criteria.
• Derived decision alternatives, assessment criteria, and weights directly from stakeholder responses.

Main Results:

• Stakeholder involvement significantly influenced the prioritization of BMPs.
• The assessment highlighted the importance of considering environmental, economic, and social factors in BMP selection.
• Aggregated scores demonstrated the value of inclusive decision-making processes.

Conclusions:

• Recommends pairing structural and non-structural BMPs for comprehensive pollution mitigation.
• Emphasizes the critical role of stakeholder engagement in developing effective and inclusive catchment management strategies.
• Provides valuable insights for policymakers and environmental managers in addressing water pollution challenges.