Conference Agenda

This research advances our understanding of the structural barriers that hinder the application of good governance principles in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) as socio-ecological systems. Drawing on our experience in European projects since 2012 and focused on the Spanish case since 2018, we have identified, through both primary and secondary data, various barriers that impede progress towards an efficient marine governance. These insights led us to develop a methodology for evaluating MPA governance efficiency based on stakeholder perceptions, implemented in our OGMAR platform (Observatory of Marine Governance), which covers 858 Spanish MPAs (marine and coastal-marine areas). In this proposal, we apply our methodology to define a typology of management models derived from good governance principles, formulating hypotheses on which groups of actors are most likely to perceive each model. We then test the framework against data collected via OGMAR, incorporating network analysis to construct bipartite actor–governance model networks, identify clusters of actors with shared perceptions, and perform a multilevel spatial examination of governance patterns. By contrasting the theoretical framework with empirical data from Spanish stakeholders, we identify structural barriers that undermine good governance. Further exploration of these challenges through OGMAR data highlights opportunities to strengthen management efficiency and stakeholder participation in decision-making. Ultimately, this study contributes to improving environmental and marine governance by demonstrating how the proposed methodology, combined with network analysis of stakeholder perceptions, can help design interventions that advance the sustainability of socio-ecological systems and foster sustainable human development.

This paper examines the characteristics of inter-organisational networks in post-disaster recovery, focusing on their ability to adapt and remain effective over time. While extensive research has explored such networks during the preparedness and response phases, their role in long-term recovery has received less attention. Unlike the response phase, recovery is a multi-year process involving the sustainable restoration of the physical, economic, social and psychological well-being of affected communities.

The existing research landscape is fragmented, with scholars from different disciplines applying different empirical and theoretical approaches to different disaster types and networks. To provide a more systematic basis for studying the sustainability of inter-organisational networks, this study conducts an integrative review, synthesising knowledge across research traditions to identify common themes.

A keyword search was conducted in major academic databases, including Scopus, EBSCOhost and Web of Science. The selection process involved screening of titles and abstracts, followed by a full-text review based on pre-defined inclusion criteria, resulting in 17 papers using a network approach. Inductive coding was combined with deductive coding based on the collaborative resilience framework, covering diversity of actors and resources, trust and reciprocity, leadership, community buy-in and structure.

Preliminary findings reveal five core factors impeding the sustainability of inter-organizational networks: bureaucratic constraints, power imbalances, fragmented responsibilities, unclear goals and organisational turnover. Additionally, the study finds that most networks are initially centralised, facilitating coordination in the early stages. However, over time, these networks tend to decentralise as recovery efforts progress and responsibilities become more distributed.

The increasing complexity of environmental challenges highlights the need for a deeper understanding of social-ecological systems. However, conservation efforts often fail due to misalignment between ecological processes and the social, political, or institutional structures governing these ecosystems. Sustainable governance approaches should therefore account for the specific ecological conditions.

Given these complexities, forest management provides a particularly relevant context for examining social-ecological alignment. Forests are dynamic systems where ecological and social processes interact across multiple scales, requiring coordinated management strategies. Multifunctional forests face increasing demands as they must balance ecological, social, and economic objectives sustainably. In Germany, state forest management is expected to serve as a role model in addressing these objectives. However, this requires cooperation and collaboration among forest district managers, particularly for conservation efforts spanning multiple jurisdictions.

To examine these connections, we investigate the horizontal interactions between forest district managers and their alignment with ecological conditions. Specifically, we ask:

(i) To what extent do forest district managers within a state forest enterprise engage in horizontal cooperation and collaboration?

(ii) How do patterns of cooperation and collaboration among forest district managers align with ecological patterns?

(iii) How does the alignment between cooperation and collaboration patterns and ecological structures influence self-assessed performance?

We address these questions through a social-ecological network analysis, combining social network data from an online survey with ecological data on species distribution. The survey, completed by 20 out of 21 district managers, captured self-reported cooperation and collaboration patterns. Ecological patterns are understood as the abundance of species of higher management and societal concern (capercaillie, golden jackal, lynx, wolf, wildcat, partridge, and bark beetle) in the districts.

By integrating social network analysis with ecological patterns, this study provides a frame for assessing how well governance structures align with ecological conditions to support sustainable forest management. Understanding these network interactions is essential for identifying opportunities to strengthen cooperation and collaboration, potentially contributing to more resilient and and sustainable management practices.

This article examines the mechanisms through which social and environmental safeguard (SES) experts establish legitimacy in global governance, emphasizing the role of professional social networks in shaping and consolidating this emerging field of expertise. Over the past 10–15 years, SES expertise has developed at the intersection of international organizations (IOs), policy frameworks, and consultancy markets, yet its boundaries and professional norms remain fluid. Drawing on Bourdieu’s field theory and social network analysis (SNA), this study explores how SES professionals—both internal officers and external consultants—mobilize social, cultural, economic, and symbolic capital to gain recognition and authority. Through a mixed-methods approach—interviews with 25 SES experts and computational analysis of 200 LinkedIn profiles—the research uncovers patterns in professional trajectories, network formation, and reputational signaling. By analyzing how SES professionals leverage their affiliations, credentials, and digital visibility to navigate institutional hierarchies, this study sheds light on the evolving nature of expertise in development governance and the role of social networks in structuring professional legitimacy.

Global temperatures are rising and recent summers have seen more droughts, falling groundwater levels, and forest loss. This has increased awareness about preparing for climate change's effects on water management. A variety of actors is involved in the management or governance of water resources, including representatives from the private sector (e.g., farmers or industry associations), non-governmental organizations (NGOs) (e.g., environmental groups), water providers, governmental agencies or political actors in legislative or executive institutions. To achieve water security, civil society, communities, political decisionmakers, water managers and all other actors involved have to be included. Research on water issues is carried out both in the environmental sciences, more specifically hydrology, but also increasingly in the social and political sciences. However, cross-disciplinary research is still rare and underdeveloped. To address the uncertainty of future developments, scenario analysis has become state of the art in research and policy advice. We contribute with a cross-disciplinary study using cross-impact-balance (CIB) analysis. We analyse governance networks and complex policy decision-making processes combined with storylines for future climate scenarios to find efficient strategies for water resilience, adaptive capacity building and carbon reduction to support informed decision-making.