The imageability of bias and its guidance of stakeholder engagement in Illinois climate policy

This study examines the role of bias in landscape-driven planning processes. Using open-ended responses from a participatory stakeholder survey conducted as part of the Illinois Natural and Working Lands Plus (INWL+) Plan development, we analyzed how diverse stakeholder groups, differentiated by affiliation, geographic location, values, and educational background, mapped climate risks and priorities. Our research objectives are to examine how bias manifests in stakeholder survey responses, apply Kevin Lynch’s imageability framework as an analytical tool for mapping these biases, and to explore the resulting implications for developing transparency, trust, and collaborative capacity in environmental decision-making. Our findings show that bias can function as a structuring element in the environmental policy development landscape. Stakeholder responses, formed “districts” shaped by identity and expertise, traced “paths” toward preferred strategies, and encountered “edges” at sites of disagreement and contested trust. Yet, patterns of shared concerns emerged, revealing potential leverage points for building consensus and fostering inclusive decision-making in the stakeholder engagement process. By adapting Lynch’s framework, we demonstrate that recognizing and mapping stakeholder bias can enhance transparency, trust, and collaborative capacity in the design of landscape and environmental policy.