Social Networks and Local Collaboration in Natural Resources Management in Developing Countries: A Review of the Theoretical and Empirical Literature

Abstract

While there has been a growth of literature in the area of social networks and naturalresources management (NRM), the theoretical and empirical literature on socialnetwork dynamics of local collaboration in NRM in developing countries, and Africain particular, remains underdeveloped. This paper reviews the theoretical andempirical literature of social networks and local collaboration in NRM, and developsa conceptual framework for examining social network dynamics of local collaborationin NRM. Its discussion centres on considerations for applying a stochastic actor-basedmodelling approach of network dynamics, which offers one of the several noteworthyapproaches to social network analysis. The paper concludes that understanding themechanisms that underpin the dynamic nature of social networks and localcollaboration in NRM helps in developing appropriate policies that encouragecollaborative efforts, and foster local commitment to sustainable NRM.Key words: social networks, natural resources management, local collaboration, networkdynamics, stochastic actor-based modelling