The analysis of forest governance and social capital: theoretical and methodological links, gaps and overlaps

Since the 1990, governance and social capital have increasingly attracted the attention of theorists and applied researchers in relation to environmental resources management. They are often considered key-factors for rural development at local level. In forestry, the two concepts have been explored mainly in relation to community forests and participatory approaches. Forest governance and social capital are clearly interconnected and their respective realms of analysis are partially overlapping and linking, while some significant gaps exist. On the basis of a literature review and a comparison among empirical evidences from case studies in Europe and other regional contexts, theoretical and conceptual links, gaps and overlaps between the two themes are identified and discussed in order to understand whether, to which extent and under which conditions changes in social capital might induce variations into forest governance arrangements and their performances (and vice-versa). A methodological proposal for identifying and measuring forest governance-social capital reciprocal effects is presented. The proposed methodology is a combination of Social Network Analysis and governance assessment indicators. Results attest there is a bidirectional relationship (not always positive) between forest governance capacity and quality of social capital in local forestry networks.