This article forwards the argument that combining institutional and people participation is fundamental to the pursuit of sustainability'. A generalized model of participation is proposed based on building consensus and preventing/resolving con¯ict between all stakeholders who might be in¯uential in, or affected by, the effect of major developments on a society's goals for sustainability. This consensus' participation model seeks to overcome problems relating to the exclusive nature of community-based popular' participation (such as Participatory Rural Appraisal), and the narrow economic nature of current stakeholder' participation. The model is founded upon two ideas: that to achieve consensus requires stakeholders to negotiate and reach agreement collaboratively, and that certain stakeholders (e.g. the disenfranchised poor and entrenched government bureaucracies) are often polarized from a capability to contribute effectively to this process. In a manner similar to the introduction of methodologies to guide environmental management in project planning (environmental impact assessment, land use evaluation etc.), it is suggested that methodological frameworks are needed to aid the process of integrating consensus' participation within major development initiatives (large-scale projects, sectoral programmes, strategic land use or resource management planning, and regional and national policy formulation). Based on research in Zambia, an example of a consensusorientated participation framework is presented, designed to guide preparation of strategic management plans for protected areas. The example is used to draw out some of the bene®ts of consensus' participation.