Community Participation and Recognition Justice in Border Environmental Governance

In the U.S.-Mexico border region, environmental governance is fractured by the multiplicity of jurisdictions that overlap and create accountability gaps for local communities. In order to understand the role that community members play in influencing this governance process, this research is focused on the types of participants in, and barriers to community participation in the Border 2020 program, an institution of environmental governance in the border region. My findings show that while the program has succeeded in being a resource for border non-governmental organizations, their reach does not include border residents who may already have less access to their governance processes. Moreover, the key barriers to participation include structural barriers for community members like lack of funds for transportation to events, and childcare/work responsibilities. Program barriers to participation include: (1) lack of services/funding to address structural barriers, (2) minimal outreach to disadvantaged communities, (3) minimal capacity building opportunities, (4) infrequent meetings, and (5) changes in task force leadership. I argue there is a recognition injustice at play in this case study of the Border 2020 program as there are key missing community members that are not being recognized as needed stakeholders in the governance process.