Wireless sensor networks are an indispensable tool in this highly connected world. WSNs have been the focus of research efforts in areas of communication, electronics and control for many years. Advancements in the fields of MEMS, RF and digital circuit technology has led to the development of low cost and extremely power efficient smart sensors. This has led to the need of a fast, reliable and inexpensive method of consensus building for these sensor networks. Basic concepts of graph theory and consensus building are explained in this thesis. This thesis reviews the models and strategies for consensus building present in the literature. The shortcomings of these models are explained through examples and a leader-follower model based consensus building strategy is presented. Algorithm to convert any graph into a bipartite graph by edge removal and a strategy to select effective leaders based on a weighted combination of node centrality, ratio of leaders to the total number of nodes and presence of leaf nodes in the group is presented in this thesis. Proposed leader-follower model is compared against classic models for consensus building are compared and proven to be better. Mobility is studied using deterministic and random mobility models to show the improvement in convergence rate of the network. It is shown that mobility can turn any disconnected network into a connected network, which is able to reach consensus.

Background: Opioid use disorder (OUD), prescription opioid misuse, and increased heroin use are major public health crises in the US. Excessive non-medical use of prescription opioids and illicit drugs can alter the brain, disrupt mental health, and increase the risk of blood-borne illnesses and bacterial infections. The CDC reported that opioids caused nearly 70% of the 67,367 overdose deaths in 2018. Rural areas have high prescription and illicit drug use rates, limited resources, and unique challenges. There is an emerging need to understand rural residents' perspectives on OUD and substance use disorder (SUD) in their community in order to implement efforts. A community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach addresses the need for a systematic participatory solutions, and reduces community opposition and promotes sustainable, culturally appropriate interventions that can reduce the health-related harms caused by substance abuse. Methods: Two studies were conducted using CBPR principles to address the opioid crisis in a rural Southern Virginia community. Study I aimed to provide insight into community members' perceptions, knowledge, and experiences with OUD/SUD to inform community-led strategies. Study II assessed whether a virtual community platform with a Nominal Group Technique (NGT) can build consensus around Comprehensive Harm Reduction (CHR) in the same rural Southern Virginia community. Study II used the Community Readiness Model (CRM) and assessment tool. Stakeholder focus groups were conducted by a participatory research team, EM, as part of a larger project using the Stakeholder Engagement in quEstion Development (SEED) method. To assess the community's readiness to implement CHR using the CRM, Study II used semi-structured qualitative interviews with key stakeholders. The results of the readiness assessment were then used to inform a virtual community forum with members of a drug-free coalition. On the basis of CRM interview themes and findings, the forum used the NGT consensus-building technique. Results: The primary themes identified in the analysis of the community stakeholder focus groups conducted for Study I included the importance of family dynamics and social networks as risk and resiliency factors, addressing hopelessness as a preventive strategy, the need for holistic approaches to treatment, childhood exposure resulting in intergenerational substance use, the needs of overburdened healthcare providers, the expansion of long-term rehabilitation programs, and the need for judicial reform towards those with OUD. Comprehensive methods to address OUD's complexity require specific and well-defined strategies. Understanding the factors that contribute to OUD in rural communities should be the first step in developing actions. The overall community readiness score for Study II was 4.07, indicating the community is still in the pre-planning stage for bring CHR to the community. The majority of key informants believe that leaders and community members recognize the problem of SUD/OUD harms and that something should be done to improve and integrate harm reduction efforts. The forum had 12 attendees. The community forum produced 13 topics and a list of action priorities that at least 80% of participants agreed on. The two areas of high priority included: (1) raising awareness of secondary harms of SUD/OUD and available resources to assist the community, and (2) reducing the stigma associated with CHR and appeal to people's sense of humanity in order to create an environment conducive to understanding and increase buy-in around CHR. Implications: Both studies show rural stakeholders can help curb the drug epidemic. Their knowledge of internal community dynamics and needs allows them to prioritize actions to improve health outcomes. In addition, Study II demonstrated the effectiveness of the CR Model in determining community readiness to adopt CHR and the value of a virtual community forum in conjunction with an NGT process in fostering stakeholder consensus. / Doctor of Philosophy / Background: Opioid use disorder (OUD), prescription opioid misuse, and rising heroin use are major public health crises in the US. Taking too many prescription opioids or illegal drugs can be harmful. This can alter the brain, cause stress, and increase the risk of blood-borne illnesses and infections. Opioids caused nearly 70% of the 67,367 overdose deaths in 2018, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rural areas have high prescription and illicit drug use rates, limited resources, and unique issues. There is an emerging need to understand rural residents' perspectives on OUD and substance use disorder (SUD) in their community in order to implement efforts. Thus, this research which is based on the principles of Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) was conducted to help address this need. To reduce the health-related harms caused by substance abuse, CBPR promotes sustainable, culturally applicable interventions. Methods: Two studies used CBPR to address the opioid crisis in rural Southern Virginia. The goal of Study I was to gain insight into community members' perspectives, knowledge, and experiences to inform community-led action. For the first study, a community-research team, EM, conducted group discussions with community members as part of a larger project that used a participatory approach to unite the community in actions to address OUD in their community. Study II used the Community Readiness Model (CRM) and an assessment tool to determine community readiness for comprehensive harm reduction (CHR). The study also wanted to see how a virtual community platform with a consensus building process could help build agreement around CHR. In Study II, key stakeholders were interviewed to assess the community's readiness for CHR. Then a virtual community forum with members of a drug-free coalition was held. The forum got responses and put them in order based on themes and results from CRM interviews. Results: We learned from the first study, family dynamics, social networks, hopelessness, intergenerational substance use, and healthcare provider needs all influence risk and resilience. Long-term rehab programs should be expanded, and the justice system should treat OUD differently. Detailed methods to address OUD's complexity require specific and well-defined strategies. Understanding what causes OUD in rural communities should be the first step in finding solutions. Study II found that the community is still in the pre-planning stage, with a score of 4.07 out of 9, indicating that leaders and community members recognize that the harms associated with OUD are a problem and something should be done to improve and incorporate harm reduction efforts. The results of the community forum also show a list of important topics on which at least 80% of participants agreed. The two areas of high importance were: (1) raising awareness of secondary harms and available resources to help the community, and (2) lowering the stigma associated with CHR to make it easier for people to understand, but be deliberate in appealing to people's sense of humanity to get them to buy into CHR. Conclusions: Both studies show that people who live in rural areas can help solve the local drug problem. Their understanding of how needs change within a community gives us a unique way to improve health outcomes. Study II found that using CRM and a virtual consensus-building process can aid stakeholders in reaching an agreement on how to address issues. Study II also showed how useful it is to use a virtual community forum and an NGT process to figure out if a community is ready for CHR.

Technological, political and economical developments have fostered the spread of transnational media since the latter part of the 20th century. Despite that, most studies of media effects are still nationally bound. This dissertation discusses some of the effects that both national and transnational news media can have on people’s thoughts and feelings. It explores the particular effect of consensus building as a consequence of second level agenda-setting. The main focus of this dissertation is how national and transnational news media can bring different demographic groups closer in their perceptions of major topics in the news. This dissertation analyzes consensus building effects through the European Union’s reaction to the attacks of September 11, 2001 in the United States. It analyzes how the use of national and transnational media brought EU demographic groups in closer agreement regarding the attributes of the terrorism issue and of the Muslim and Arab communities, as they related to the events of 9-11 and its aftermaths for the EU community. This study is based on a secondary data analysis of a survey conducted in the close aftermath of 9-11. It is an extensive replication of Shaw and Martin’s (1992) consensus model based on a cross-national analysis of 15 European Union nations and their patterns of national and transnational news media use among four demographic groups in relation to the substantive and affective dimensions of attribute agendas regarding the aftermath of 9-11. This study found evidence that national media bring the segments of society to closer agreement regarding the attributes of terrorism and the attributes of the Muslim and Arab communities. This was especially true for those indicating they used national television. Transnational media also have some potential for similar effects, though less than for national media. Borders still matter but it will be interesting in the future to see if the increasing availability of transnational media translates into increased influence as well. / text

La concertation est un phénomène récent, de plus en plus répandu. Elle s’applique à de nombreux domaines notamment en urbanisme et plus récemment à la protection du patrimoine. Elle semble être un outil approprié pour les autorités municipales afin de faire face aux conflits autour des projets d’aménagement particulièrement ceux liés à la protection du patrimoine. Notre questionnement porte sur l’apport de la concertation dans le domaine de la préservation du patrimoine et sur la pertinence des moyens mis en place pour atteindre un tel objectif. Les tables de concertation, en tant que processus de concertation, sont-elles appropriées pour la gestion des sites patrimoniaux ? À la lumière d’une discussion théorique sur le concept de la concertation en aménagement, nous faisons l’analyse comparative de deux Tables de concertation, celle du Vieux-Montréal et celle du Mont-Royal. Notre analyse porte sur l’évaluation du processus de concertation et sur la construction d’une vision globale pour le devenir des secteurs patrimoniaux concernés. L’objectif est de caractériser le processus de concertation utilisé à Montréal et d’en apprécier l’apport dans le domaine de la protection du patrimoine. L’analyse de nos deux cas d’étude révèle l’existence d’un processus de concertation propre à Montréal, avec ses caractéristiques spécifiques, mais qui reste à parfaire pour son optimisation. Notre recherche se conclut sur la nécessité d’améliorer le processus de concertation, tel qu’étudié, à travers un certain nombre de pistes à explorer. / Consensus building is a recent and increasingly widespread phenomenon. It is used in many areas, including urban planning, and more recently heritage protection. Consensus building appears to be an appropriate tool for municipal authorities to handle conflicts in development projects, especially those projects that are related to heritage protection. Our research focuses on the contribution of consensus building in the area of heritage preservation, and on the means put in place to achieve such a goal. Are round tables, as part of the consensus building process, appropriate in managing heritage sites? Based on a theoretical discussion on consensus building in development issues, we compare two case studies, namely the Old Montréal and the Mount Royal round tables on consensus building. This analysis focuses on assessing the consensus building process and on developing a global vision for the future of the two heritage sectors under study. Our goal is to characterize the consensus building process used in Montréal and to evaluate its contribution to the field of heritage protection. The analysis of our two case studies reveals the existence of a distinctive consensus building process specific to Montréal, a process which however needs to be optimized. We conclude our research with the need to improve the assessed consensus building process through a number of avenues to explore.

La concertation est un phénomène récent, de plus en plus répandu. Elle s’applique à de nombreux domaines notamment en urbanisme et plus récemment à la protection du patrimoine. Elle semble être un outil approprié pour les autorités municipales afin de faire face aux conflits autour des projets d’aménagement particulièrement ceux liés à la protection du patrimoine. Notre questionnement porte sur l’apport de la concertation dans le domaine de la préservation du patrimoine et sur la pertinence des moyens mis en place pour atteindre un tel objectif. Les tables de concertation, en tant que processus de concertation, sont-elles appropriées pour la gestion des sites patrimoniaux ? À la lumière d’une discussion théorique sur le concept de la concertation en aménagement, nous faisons l’analyse comparative de deux Tables de concertation, celle du Vieux-Montréal et celle du Mont-Royal. Notre analyse porte sur l’évaluation du processus de concertation et sur la construction d’une vision globale pour le devenir des secteurs patrimoniaux concernés. L’objectif est de caractériser le processus de concertation utilisé à Montréal et d’en apprécier l’apport dans le domaine de la protection du patrimoine. L’analyse de nos deux cas d’étude révèle l’existence d’un processus de concertation propre à Montréal, avec ses caractéristiques spécifiques, mais qui reste à parfaire pour son optimisation. Notre recherche se conclut sur la nécessité d’améliorer le processus de concertation, tel qu’étudié, à travers un certain nombre de pistes à explorer. / Consensus building is a recent and increasingly widespread phenomenon. It is used in many areas, including urban planning, and more recently heritage protection. Consensus building appears to be an appropriate tool for municipal authorities to handle conflicts in development projects, especially those projects that are related to heritage protection. Our research focuses on the contribution of consensus building in the area of heritage preservation, and on the means put in place to achieve such a goal. Are round tables, as part of the consensus building process, appropriate in managing heritage sites? Based on a theoretical discussion on consensus building in development issues, we compare two case studies, namely the Old Montréal and the Mount Royal round tables on consensus building. This analysis focuses on assessing the consensus building process and on developing a global vision for the future of the two heritage sectors under study. Our goal is to characterize the consensus building process used in Montréal and to evaluate its contribution to the field of heritage protection. The analysis of our two case studies reveals the existence of a distinctive consensus building process specific to Montréal, a process which however needs to be optimized. We conclude our research with the need to improve the assessed consensus building process through a number of avenues to explore.

Successful intercultural natural resource management collaboration is challenged by divergent worldviews and power disparities. Studies of non-intercultural collaboration efforts demonstrate that good outcomes emerge when procedural conditions are met, such as fostering open and high-quality deliberations, use of interest-based bargaining techniques and collective definition of the scope of the process. The applicability of these procedural conditions to intercultural collaboration efforts, such as negotiations between Aboriginal people, government resource managers and sustainable forest license holders, has not been explored. The aim of this thesis is to examine the outcomes and factors influencing two intercultural collaborations in the northeast region of Ontario. Semi-structured interviews with collaboration participants, negotiation meeting minutes and draft agreements are used as data sources. Following a general inductive coding approach and using QSR NVivo 2, the analysis of outcomes in both cases highlights improvements in relationships, increased understanding among the parties and the gradual definition of the scope of the negotiation. The findings also demonstrate that several barriers, including a lack of clear policy and legislative framework for collaboration and different definitions of the problem discourage intercultural collaboration. In one negotiation process, frequent and high quality deliberations, using an interest-based negotiation approach, and efforts to mutually define the scope of the negotiation prior to substantive negotiation do not overcome these systemic barriers to collaboration. However, in another negotiation process, the social and relational characteristics of the community and participants do contribute to the parties recognizing their interdependence, focusing on shared goals and undertaking joint action. This research demonstrates that the development of shared goals and acknowledgement of divergent problem definitions are more important to intercultural collaboration success than the development of improved relationships and establishing a mutually acceptable scope prior to collaboration. In the absence of a supportive legislative basis for the distribution of forest decision-making authority and responsibilities, this understanding of how Aboriginal, government and forest industry participants can collaborate is useful for developing more effective and equitable intercultural collaboration.

Successful intercultural natural resource management collaboration is challenged by divergent worldviews and power disparities. Studies of non-intercultural collaboration efforts demonstrate that good outcomes emerge when procedural conditions are met, such as fostering open and high-quality deliberations, use of interest-based bargaining techniques and collective definition of the scope of the process. The applicability of these procedural conditions to intercultural collaboration efforts, such as negotiations between Aboriginal people, government resource managers and sustainable forest license holders, has not been explored. The aim of this thesis is to examine the outcomes and factors influencing two intercultural collaborations in the northeast region of Ontario. Semi-structured interviews with collaboration participants, negotiation meeting minutes and draft agreements are used as data sources. Following a general inductive coding approach and using QSR NVivo 2, the analysis of outcomes in both cases highlights improvements in relationships, increased understanding among the parties and the gradual definition of the scope of the negotiation. The findings also demonstrate that several barriers, including a lack of clear policy and legislative framework for collaboration and different definitions of the problem discourage intercultural collaboration. In one negotiation process, frequent and high quality deliberations, using an interest-based negotiation approach, and efforts to mutually define the scope of the negotiation prior to substantive negotiation do not overcome these systemic barriers to collaboration. However, in another negotiation process, the social and relational characteristics of the community and participants do contribute to the parties recognizing their interdependence, focusing on shared goals and undertaking joint action. This research demonstrates that the development of shared goals and acknowledgement of divergent problem definitions are more important to intercultural collaboration success than the development of improved relationships and establishing a mutually acceptable scope prior to collaboration. In the absence of a supportive legislative basis for the distribution of forest decision-making authority and responsibilities, this understanding of how Aboriginal, government and forest industry participants can collaborate is useful for developing more effective and equitable intercultural collaboration.

Cette recherche s’intéresse au phénomène qu’est l’allongement de la durée des conventions collectives. Avant juin 1994, la durée maximale d’une convention collective était fixée à trois ans. La venue de la mondialisation a chamboulé les entreprises qui, elles, pour s’adapter et survivre à cette nouvelle réalité et demeurer compétitives, ont dû procéder à des investissements majeurs, des restructurations, miser sur des relations de partenariat avec les syndicats, etc. (Boivin, 1998). Pour ce faire, elles devaient s’assurer d’obtenir une stabilité et une paix industrielle (Grant et Paquet, 1998). C’est à ce moment que nous avons vu l’apparition d’ententes qui visaient à prolonger la durée maximale des conventions collectives, fixées à trois ans, sans contrevenir aux différentes dispositions du Code du travail (L.R.Q. c.C-27). Ces « contrats sociaux » devaient compter différentes caractéristiques particulières. C’est le 10 mai 1994 que le législateur québécois a déplafonné la durée des conventions collectives (Mayer, 1999). Tel qu’établi, les transformations au niveau de l’environnement ont poussé les acteurs à revoir leurs façons de faire. Cela a mené à une déconflictualisation des relations du travail (Jalette, Bourque et Laroche, 2008). Les acteurs ont adopté des stratégies de négociation de plus en plus coopératives, ils ont eu un recours accru à la concertation, et ont développé une relation de partenariat (Maschino et coll., 2001). Nous observons en parallèle à une tendance à l’allongement de la durée des conventions collectives. Nous nous questionnons à savoir ce qui a principalement motivé autant les syndicats à négocier ce type d’entente et ainsi, renoncer à leur droit de grève, et aussi quels sont les avantages ou inconvénients pour les employeurs de négocier de telles ententes. De manière plus spécifique, notre question de recherche est la suivante : Quels sont les effets de l’allongement de la durée des conventions collectives sur les relations du travail locales en entreprise? Notre analyse vise à vérifier six propositions de recherche : 1- Les relations du travail sont transformées par la durée d’une convention collective de travail, laquelle est influencée par l’environnement. 2- L’allongement de la durée des conventions collectives de travail amène les parties à davantage recourir à des stratégies de négociation intégrative. 3- L’allongement de la durée des conventions collectives de travail contribue à diminuer le nombre de conflits de travail 4- L’allongement de la durée des conventions collectives de travail change la nature des manifestations du conflit sur le marché du travail. 5- L’allongement de la durée des conventions collectives transforme le contenu des conventions collectives de travail par l’intégration de clauses nouvelles. 6- L’allongement de la durée des CCT diminue le rapport de force du syndicat. Dans le but de répondre à ces différents questionnements, nous avons utilisé une méthodologie qualitative de recherche et plus précisément, l’étude de cas. Cette dernière fut conduite en trois étapes : la préparation, la collecte de données et l’interprétation (Merriam, 1998). Les données de notre étude ont été colligées durant l’été et l’automne 2010. Tout d’abord, nous avons effectué des entretiens semi structuré à l’aide d’une grille d’entrevue. Cette grille d’entrevue fut adaptée en fonction des acteurs rencontrés, et surtout de la partie qu’ils représentent. Nous avons interrogé les acteurs tant patronaux que syndicaux, c’est-à-dire : du côté patronal, nous avons rencontré les responsables des relations du travail oeuvrant au siège social ainsi que les conseillers en relations du travail en charge de négocier ou d’appliquer la convention collective des différents établissements couverts par l’étude. Du côté syndical, nous avons rencontré les conseillers syndicaux en charge également de négocier la convention collective et de veiller à son application. Au total, nous avons mené onze entretiens. En guise de comparaison, nous avons aussi procédé à une analyse de contenu de 139 conventions collectives du secteur de l’alimentation. Nous cherchions à savoir si les conventions collectives de longue durée avaient tendance à comporter majoritairement une plus grande présence de clauses en lien avec les 7 caractéristiques des « contrats sociaux » mentionnées par Mayer (1999). Ces caractéristiques sont les suivantes : transparence économique et de gestion, participation à la gestion, programme de qualité totale, formation, flexibilité dans l’organisation du travail, stabilité de l’emploi et mécanismes de gestion de l’entente. Mots clés : allongement, durée, conventions collectives, relations du travail, loi 116, déplafonnement des conventions collectives, NBI et concertation. / Our research examines a recent phenomenon: the lengthening of the duration of collective agreements. The maximum duration of a collective agreement used to be three years. With the advent of globalization, all has changed drastically. In order to survive and remain competitive, businesses have had to adjust to this new paradigm by investing massively, restructuring, building on renewed partnerships with the unions and the like (Boivin, 1998). To succeed, it was imperative that they foster a climate characterized by stability and industrial peace (Grant and Paquet, 1998). Thus, they started to sign agreements seeking to extend the maximum duration of collective contracts (usually three years), while abiding by the provisions of the Code du travail (L.R.Q. c. C-27). These so-called « social covenants » had to embody various specificities. Then, on May 10, 1994, the Québec government lifted the ceiling on the duration of collective agreements (Mayer, 1999). As previously mentioned, increased globalization, with its attending changes, spurred all stakeholders to modify their ways of doing business. Labor relations were no longer a major source of conflict (Jalette, Bourque and Laroche, 2008). Negotiation strategies were increasingly steeped in cooperation and consensus-building, and the negotiating parties developed a relationship akin to a partnership (Maschino et al., 2001). At the same time, the duration of collective agreements has started increasing. We will examine what motivated the unions to negotiate such agreements, thus surrendering their right to strike and also whatever benefits – or drawbacks – such a trend held in store for the employers. More specifically, we will endeavor to find out: What are the effects of increasing the duration of collective agreements on local labor relations? For the purpose of our analysis, we have formulated the following research hypotheses: 1. Labor relations undergo transformations as a result of the duration of a collective agreement being increased; said duration hinging on the business climate. 2. With longer-term collective agreements, negotiating parties apply better co-operative strategies. 3. Longer-term collective agreements reduce the number of labor conflicts 4. Longer-term collective agreements change the way these conflicts play out in the workplace. 5. Longer collective agreement periods transform collective agreement contents by the addition of new provisions. 6. Longer-term collective agreements weaken the unions negotiating position. While aiming to address the aforementioned hypotheses, we have opted for a qualitative research methodology, namely the case study. The process involved three steps: data preparation, collection and interpretation (Merriam, 1998). The data we used were collected over the summer and fall of 2010. First, we conducted semi-structured interviews using a specific interview grid, which we adjusted according to individual respondents and, first and foremost, the parties they represented. Thus, we interviewed stakeholders from both sides, unions and employers. On the employers’ side, we met labor relations specialists working out of head offices as well as labor relations consultants responsible for negotiating or enforcing the collective agreements in force in various organizations covered by our study. On the union side, we met with union representatives who were also responsible for negotiating or enforcing the collective agreements. Eleven interviews were conducted in total. As a means of comparison, we also analyzed the content of 139 collective agreements in the food sector. We wanted to determine if most long-term collective agreements tended to include a greater amount of provisions related to the seven elements typical of the « social covenants » mentioned in Mayer, 1999. These are: economic and managerial transparency, shared management, total quality programs, training, work-planning flexibility, employment stability and collective agreement management processes. Key words: long-term agreements, duration, collective agreements, labor relations, Bill 116, IBN (interest-based negotiation) and consensus-building.

Esta tese oferece o seqüenciamento, as bases conceituais da construção, formatação e apresentação do Jogo de Governança da Água (JGA) para a Bacia do Alto Tietê (BAT) situada em grande parte na Região Metropolitana de São Paulo. O objetivo do Jogo é construir intervenções dentro da sustentabilidade ambiental da BAT, alocando recursos em tempo real, através de rodadas de negociação e escolhas estratégicas pelos atores da própria Bacia, de forma a potencializar ou ampliar a governança da água na mesma. Três teorias embasam e sustentam o JGA, ou seja, a Teoria da Ação Comunicativa, a Teoria dos Jogos e a Teoria do Construtivismo. Essas teorias, associadas ao entendimento de outras metodologias que comportam plataformas de negociação, traduzem um produto, o JGA, capaz de estruturar propostas de intervenção e de alocação de recursos para sua implementação e, conseqüentemente, modificação de uma situação inicial de criticidade elencada pelos atores do Comitê da Bacia Hidrográfica do Alto Tietê. Os resultados do Jogo dependem das circunstâncias, do contexto, da interação dos jogadores; de variáveis de outros subjogos, das jogadas produzidas e da criatividade dos próprios atores. Após o Jogo, formatamse redes de aprendizagem e de prática, para que o monitoramento e avaliação da implementação permitam oferecer a gestão dos indicadores e parâmetros das intervenções acordadas no JGA. / This thesis provides the structure, conceptual bases, outline and operation of the Water Governance Game (WGG) for the Upper Tietê River Basin in the metropolitan region of São Paulo. The objective of the game is to create and develop environmentally sustainable interventions within the river basin, allocating resources in real-time, through negotiation rounds and the strategic choices of actors from the basin in order to strengthen and amplify local water governance. Three theories underpin and sustain the WGG: Jürgen Habermas\' Theory of Communicative Action, Game Theory and Constructivist epistemology. In association with a full understanding of other methodologies which encompass negotiation platforms, the theories make the WGG a product that is capable of structuring opportunities for intervention and resource allocation for the implementation and consequent modification of first case situations raised by actors within the basin. The results of the game depend on circumstances, context and the interaction of players. They are concomitant on variables from other sub-games, from gameplay and from the creativity of each of the actors. After the game, learning networks and communities of practice form which can monitor and evaluate developments and allow them to accompany implementation, offer management of indicators and follow the parameters for intervention agreed within the WGG.

Os conflitos ambientais surgem a partir das necessidades de desenvolvimento econômico e social e dos conseqüentes usos dos recursos naturais. À medida que esses recursos naturais foram se tornando escassos, os modelos de desenvolvimento existentes passaram a ser criticados, culminando em 1987 com a definição de desenvolvimento sustentável. Uma contribuição para a implementação do desenvolvimento sustentável é a resolução de conflitos ambientais por meio de abordagens alternativas, com a construção de consenso. O ordenamento jurídico brasileiro atribui ao ministério público características e instrumentos que permitem a utilização dessas abordagens na resolução dos conflitos ambientais. Por meio do inquérito civil, instrumento exclusivo da instituição e do termo de ajustamento de conduta, o promotor de justiça realiza a resolução de conflitos ambientais sem a intervenção do poder judiciário. Além dos instrumentos, uma característica do ministério público favorável à utilização dessas abordagens é a credibilidade social da instituição. O presente trabalho busca comprovar, com base na experiência da promotoria de justiça do meio ambiente da comarca de São Carlos – SP, a efetividade da resolução de conflitos ambientais por meio da construção de consenso utilizando esses instrumentos. Para alcançar esse objetivo, realizou-se, no período de 2001 a 2004, levantamento de dados armazenados em registro eletrônico, nos inquéritos civís e termos de ajustamento de conduta, além do acompanhamento de audiências e participação em vistorias realizadas pelo promotor de justiça em exercício. Além disso, realizou-se entrevistas com representantes de instituições de gestão e fiscalização ambiental e de organizações não governamentais. Os resultados obtidos demonstram que a utilização do inquérito civil, em conjunto com o termo de ajustamento de conduta soluciona a maior parte dos conflitos ambientais evitando a intervenção do poder judiciário e a ação civil pública, obtendo a maior conscientização da sociedade civil e do próprio poder público, reduzindo o tempo e os custos das negociações, pois a maior parte dos conflitos é resolvida no prazo de um ano e meio, permitindo a reparação do dano em tempo viável, possibilitando ainda a antecipação aos danos ambientais. Porém, uma das maiores dificuldades detectadas é a falta de apoio técnico e de dados ambientais disponíveis, organizados e confiáveis para a tomada de decisões, o que resultou na recomendação do desenvolvimento de uma pesquisa complementar para preencher essa lacuna e melhorar o desempenho da atuação dos promotores de justiça na resolução de conflitos ambientais. / The environmental conflicts arise from the need for economical and social development and from the consequent use of natural resources. When these natural resources were becoming scarce, the existing development models started to be criticized, culminating with the definition of sustainable development in 1987. A contribution for the implementation of sustainable development is the resolution of environmental conflicts by alternative approaches, with the consensus building. The brazilian juridical ordainment ascribe to the public ministry characteristics and tools that allow the use of these approaches in the environmental conflicts resolution. By means of civil inquest, exclusive tool for the institution, and the conduct adjustment term, the justice prosecutor attain the environmental conflicts resolution without the interference of the judiciary. Beside the tools, a characteristic of the public ministry that is favorable to the use of such approaches is the social credibility of the institution. This work tries to prove, based on the experience of the environmental prosecutor office from the city of Sao Carlos – SP, the effectiveness of environmental conflicts resolution by means of the consensus building by using these tools. To reach this objective, a thorough research was carried out, from 2001 through 2004, in the data electronically recorded from the civil inquests and conduct adjustment terms. In this period, a number of hearings and inspections carried out by the assigned justice prosecutor were followed. In addition, many interviews with representatives from environmental management and surveillance institutions and non governmental organizations were done. The results show that the use of civil inquest together with the conduct adjustment term solve the greatest part of environmental conflicts. The successful use of such tools avoids the intervention of both the judiciary and the civil public action, resulting in a greater consciousness from both the civil society and government, reducing thereby time and costs associated with the negotiations, as the greatest part of the conflicts is solved in one year and a half, allowing the reparation of the harm in viable time, thus enabling the antecipation of environmental harms. One of the greatest difficulties, however, is the lack of both technical support and the availability of organized and reliable environmental data for the decision making process. These constraints resulted in the recommendations for the development of a complementary research to fill up such gap and to improve the performance of action of the justice prosecutors in the resolution of environmental conflicts.