Forest and landscape restoration governance: Initiatives and the social actors' network in the Sao Paulo portion of the Paraiba Valley

Tropical forests are historically affected by deforestation, environmental degradation and socio-environmental transformations, which turns these ecosystems into priority areas for biodiversity conservation and restoration of forests and landscapes. The Mata Atlantica region brings together social, environmental and institutional conditions for the implementation of restoration initiatives, particularly in the state of Sao Paulo portion of the Paraiba Valley. The article aims at describing the history of initiatives, the network of social actors and the interactions that shape Forest and Landscape Restoration (FLR) governance in the Paraiba Valley. Semi-structured interviews and social landscape mapping were used for data collection, as well as content and social network analyses. Forest and Landscape Restoration actions have been taking place in the Paraiba Valley for at least 15 years, currently involving around 92 local and regional social actors. It is understood that the Paraiba Valley social landscape offers favorable conditions for the advancement of Forest and Landscape Restoration initiatives given the multiplicity of actors and interactions between levels. The results suggest that project and program decision-makers should prioritize the social roles of intermediation, dissemination and change agents to integrate peripheral actors in the Forest and Landscape Restoration network.