Making Network Governance Work in Forest Land-Use Policy in the Local Government

Focusing on Indonesia's Riau Province, this study examines the complexities of managing networks for forest governance, and how local governments should adopt and enforce policies in network settings based on multi-stakeholder participation. Data were collected through interviews and document analysis, and analyzed using network analysis. The finding show that network governance through regulation should be enforced through the network's political structure, involve several local actors, and facilitate coordination and communication for mutual benefit, especially in forest land-use management. Trust and costs reflect the development of collaborative behavioral frameworks which can influence coordination capacity, including intergovernmental networks in forest land-use policy. Further, the separation of network governance from multiple linked actors, which seems more ally (i.e., lead-organization governed networks) than join (i.e., shared/participatory governance networks), is undoubtedly problematic. The network and building of trust between network stakeholders may never transform into multi-stakeholder management structures without enabling network governance.

Automated summary

This study focuses on the complexities of managing forest governance networks in Indonesia's Riau Province and explores how local governments should implement policies in network settings with multi-stakeholder participation. The findings highlight the importance of enforcing network governance through the network's political structure, involving multiple local actors, and promoting coordination and communication for mutual benefit.