Catalytic and structural factors behind advancements of co-management in protected areas: Contributions for its evaluation

Over the past few decades, the literature has pointed out pathways to success in co-management processes based on key conditions. Rather than offering prescriptive conclusions for successful co-management in protected areas, in this article, we highlight the importance of the “process” and certain elements that contribute to advancements of formal and informal co-management. We analyzed the trajectory of two protected areas for sustainable use in coastal Brazil - Extractive Reserves of Prainha do Canto Verde and São João da Ponta. Advancements of co-management were understood as processes of shared environmental and territorial governance, with levels of community participation and/or social control. Advancements were observed in both formal co-management arenas, such as deliberative boards for protected area management, and informal spheres, such as the implementation of projects and other actions involving traditional populations and partners. Drawing on Grounded Theory, the advancements were explained based on two categories of inter-related factors: (i) catalytic factors – crises, threats and other factors of social mobilization, emancipatory partnerships, and political identity, and (ii) structural factors, based on resources of community power and citizenship. Beyond diagnoses or rankings of success, the explanatory dimension of these phenomena highlights their inherent complexity. •Co-management evaluations of protected areas need to be further complexified.•Co-management advancements were observed in both formal and informal co-management arenas.•Catalytic and structural factors explain co-management in the long term.•The trajectory analysis is relevant to evaluate co-management advancements of protected areas.