Social-ecological systems mapping to enhance students’ understanding of community-scale conflicts related to industrial pollution

Abstract

The Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) was established by the US government in 1986 after several national and international industrial accidents released toxic chemicals into the environment. The TRI empowers local stakeholders with information about hazardous pollution in their communities so that they can confront industrial polluters and engage government regulators to reduce local ecological and public health risks. The policy is overseen by the Environmental Protection Agency. The activity described in this chapter provides an introduction to the TRI and highlights some of the ways that community groups in the United States use the program. Students use social-ecological systems mapping to analyze case studies presented in a National Public Radio series, Poisoned Places, that powerfully documents case studies of local-level conflicts related to hazardous pollution. After completing this activity, students should be able to: (1) elaborate on the objectives, requirements, and uses of the Toxics Release Inventory; (2) create and describe a social-ecological systems map that illustrates the ways that industry, community, and government stakeholders interact to manage toxic pollutants; (3) identify the relationships among stakeholders that contribute to pollution-related conflicts at the community scale; and (4) use social-ecological systems mapping to highlight leverage points for de-escalating conflicts and improving management of industrial pollutants.