Natural Resource Management Networks

As we study the effects of social networks on natural resource use and extraction there is the possibility that scientific dialogue will be impeded because of a lack of a common language for expressing the relationships between social networks and human behavior related to natural resource use. Here I propose two fundamental models of social networks as a basis for that language (Frank, 1998).  The first is the model of influence which expresses how human actors’ beliefs or behaviors are affected by the others with whom they interact.  This would apply for example to the number of traps a lobster fisherman places in the water is influenced by the norm in his community (Acheson, 1988).  The second model is of how actors select with whom to engage in interactions.  For example, how do the senior lobster highliners choose to whom to give advice or support to enter the lobster fishery?   I use the models to help social network analysts mitigate potential limitations and pitfalls of social network analysis. I apply the models to examples in the extant literature regarding natural resource use as well as in the current volume.  Finally I will discuss the implications for scientific dialogue, and ultimately for informing practice of managers of natural resources.