How to select instruments for the resolution of environmental conflicts?

This editorial shows that environmental conflicts are characterised by the combination of two types of complexities, ecological and societal. Decisions to resolve these conflicts have often been oriented to efficiency improvements and/or cost-effectiveness, and instruments to reach the decisions have been arranged accordingly. Both criteria do not suffice to distinguish appropriate instruments from those that cannot cope with the complexities. Therefore, new criteria oriented to process legitimacy and information management will be included in order to facilitate the selection of appropriate instruments for the resolution of environmental conflicts.