Collaboration Networks for the Development of Community Tourism in a Conservation Area of the Brazilian Amazon

Abstract

Community-based tourism (CBT) is a development strategy requiring collaborative governance and coordination among diverse stakeholders to promote sustainability in traditional territories. However, the implementation of such networks faces structural and coordination challenges particularly in protected areas of the Amazon where reliance on external agents can compromise local autonomy. Therefore, this study aimed to analysis the collaborative networks involved in CBT development within the Lago do Cuniã Extractive Reserve (RESEX) in Rondônia, identifying the strength of ties and the types of social capital present. A mixed-methods approach was adopted. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of six key stakeholders representing the community (leaders and entrepreneurs), the public sector (ICMBio and UNIR), and the private sector (SEBRAE and consultancy). Data were processed using Social Network Analysis (SNA) in UCINET software, employing a 16 node adjacency matrix to calculate density and centrality metrics. The results reveal a multicentric, directional, and dispersed network with low density (0.162), indicating an early stage of formation. SEBRAE acts as the primary coordinating node (11 connections), followed by ICMBio, which plays a central technical and logistical role. A predominance of bridging and linking social capital was observed at the expense of bonding (cohesion) capital demonstrating that while the community actively seeks external support, it still exhibits low internal cohesion and limited participation by local associations (such as ASMOCUM) in decision-making processes. It is recommended that future policies focus on transforming external dependency relationships into partnerships that foster the empowerment and sustainability of families residing in the territory.