Results from our study suggest that the communication network
of Sant Llorenç is fragile because of the few ties between
stakeholders, which reflect a lack of trust and little knowledge
exchange. Our research also suggests that central stakeholders of
the communication network are represented in participatory
bodies of the natural park. We argue that social network analysis
is an appropriate tool to identify central stakeholders of different
categories to support participatory processes. In light of these
findings, we consider it important to improve the functioning of
participatory bodies and to initiate participatory processes to
generate or rebuild trust, share information, provide support, and
increase cooperation between stakeholders. Further research
could address the question of which network structures are most
suitable for local participation in governance (Barabási 2009,
Newman 2003) to advance the field of social network analysis
and natural resource management.
Because effective governance of protected areas has been deemed
a priority in developed and developing countries, the implications
of our findings are not limited to the natural park of Sant Llorenç
del Munt. As Ernstson (2011) noted, we argue that transformative
change in natural resource management is critical for the
maintenance of social-ecological systems. We suggest that social
network analysis, beyond being a supportive tool for stakeholder
analysis (Prell et al. 2008), can help in the aforementioned
transformation supporting protected areas’ policies and
governance.