Controversy management and territorial governance: the role of hybrid forums in a socio-environmental conservation unit

Abstract This article presents a theoretical-empirical discussion in dialogue with actor-network theory through the concepts of “technical democracy” and “hybrid forums” present in the book Acting in an uncertain world by Michel Callon, Pierre Lascoumes, and Yannick Barthe. We assessed the degree of technical democracy in the management of the Baleia Franca Environmental Protection Area in Santa Catarina during a seminar to identify and reward emblematic initiatives in environmental and social sustainability and territorial development. By analyzing the controversies and deliberations at the forum, we identified that the management of this conservation unit acted and promoted technical democracy in the territory to a large extent.