Social networks and natural resource management

"Social Network Analysis (SNA), a quantitative approach to the study of social relations, has recently emerged as a key tool for understanding the governance of natural resources. Bringing together contributions from a range of researchers in the field, this is the first book to fully explore the potential applications of SNA in the context of natural resource management. Topics covered include the role of SNA in stakeholder selection; improving fisheries management and conservation; the effect of social network ties on public satisfaction and agrarian communication networks. Numerous case studies link SNA concepts to the theories underlying natural resource governance, such as social learning, adaptive co-management and social movements theory. Reflecting on the challenges and opportunities associated with this evolving field, this is an ideal resource for students and researchers involved in many areas of natural resource management, environmental biology, sustainability science and sociology"-- "The goal of this book is to outline how social network analysis can be used as a conceptual tool and an analytical method for uncovering a variety of social factors affecting resource governance, particularly as it is conceptualized by these more recent perspectives. We will therefore confine our discussion to adaptive co-management (hereafter ACM), in an attempt to show how this theory, and related concepts, are linked to other theories of importance for natural resource governance, and how social network analysis can help further our understanding in this domain. In doing this we do not suggest that ACM is necessarily better than other concept or theoretical frameworks available"--