Red PINOS: A participatory and collaborative governance experience for managing exotic conifer invasions in Bariloche, Argentina

The invasion of pines in the Argentine Patagonia, particularly in Bariloche, poses a significant challenge to biodiversity conservation and sustainable forest management. In response, Red PINOS, a participatory and collaborative governance structure, has emerged as a key alternative for articulating and coordinating efforts to address this issue in a comprehensive and holistic manner. This study aims to characterize the role of Red PINOS in mapping the social actors involved in pine invasion management in the natural--urban interface areas of Bariloche. Utilizing actor mapping techniques and social network analysis, the study identified and measured the levels of participation of diverse actors through various articulations. The initiative fostered various links and interactions, resulting in the establishment of a multi-actor, open, and dynamic round table that was previously non-existent.

The research identified twenty-eight actor groups linked to the issue, including ten from the public sector, five from the private sector, six from the academic--scientific sector, and seven from civil society. Currently, the governance table is comprised mainly of individuals from academic--scientific institutions, where the initiative originated, followed by the public sector, and civil society to a lesser extent. An initial link has been established with 70% of the actor groups, with the private sector presenting the greatest challenges for articulation.

The results demonstrate that Red PINOS has facilitated greater communication, consensus, cooperation, and synergy among government entities, non-governmental organizations, the scientific community, and civil society regarding action strategies for more efficient and effective pine invasion management. These positive outcomes are partially attributed to the mobilization of resources, knowledge sharing, and collaborative actions leading to increased awareness of the problem and mitigation of pine invasions. Examples: on-site removal efforts in a pilot area, growth of the social network, increased public interaction, and citizen participation in collaborative mapping of the invasions.