Civil society’s digitized approach to environmental planning. The case of environmental associations’ e-participation platform in Berlin

In the dawn of innovative digital tools for communication and information exchange the civil society has apparently taken a step forward into this new direction. This paper explores the process for enhancing E-participation in environmental planning and making relevant government decision-making democratically accountable. Environmental issues are dealt in the civil society context with reflexivity that incorporates lay and local knowledge. The case study emphasizes on the BLN e.V e-participation platform “Umwelt-Beteiligung-Berlin” and discusses the extent and impact of Environmental Associations involvement in sustainable environmental planning. BLN e.V was created as a hub for all Berlins registered Nature conservation/Environment protection associations as well as citizens’ initiatives on environmental projects. The platform was developed in cooperation with the nature conservation associations recognized in Brandenburg and Lower Saxony. BLN working group is supported by volunteers in the Federal Ecological Volunteers Service (ÖBFD). The paper analyses the case study impact and concludes by discussing how the concept can be proliferated on EU, national, regional and local level and the prospects of future research.