Qualitative participatory and integrated assessment of the environment and of sustainability. Methodological aspects in four study cases

The adequate management of complex problems having a high degree of public relevance, such as those concerning the improvement of the environment or standards of sustainability, require the use of participatory and integrated methodologies. A methodological approach has been developed in accordance with this supposition. Called Participatory Integrated Environmental Assessment, it combines procedures of the integration of diverse types of knowledge through the use of qualitative techniques, based on dialogue as the form of participation. The text describes the procedure and draws conclusions through a comparison of four cases of this type that have been carried out in Catalonia.