Collaborative Environmental Governance: An Integrative Review of Inter-Institutional Networks

Collaborative environmental governance has stood out as a fundamental strategy in the face of the growing complexity of contemporary socio-ecological challenges. The theme gains relevance in contexts that demand coordination between multiple institutional actors, expanding the legitimacy and effectiveness of environmental policies. Therefore, this article aims to analyze the contributions of collaborative environmental governance to the consolidation of interinstitutional networks in the promotion of sustainability. The choice of the theme is justified by its relevance and academic and practical relevance, as it highlights the limits and potentialities of collaborative arrangements. The methodology consisted of an integrative literature review carried out on Google Scholar, considering articles published between 2020 and 2025, in addition to classic references on governance. A total of 25 studies were selected based on methodological rigor, theoretical relevance and thematic adherence, analyzed through triangulation and content analysis. The main findings point out that inter-institutional networks increase the effectiveness of environmental policies in areas such as water protection, sustainable tourism, and single health, but face obstacles such as excessive bureaucracy, capture by economic interests, and social inequalities. It is concluded that collaborative environmental governance contributes to strengthening sustainability, although its effectiveness depends on institutional and contextual factors that still require further development in future research.