Social Network Performance Indicators (SNPI): A review of key concepts and indicators of social process and outcomes in environmental management

Environmental governance (EG) involves the human dimensions that influence biodiversity and natural resource management. Effective EG relies on collaborative and participatory arrangements that enable stakeholder influence in decision-making. This review presents a collection of Social Network Performance Indicators (SNPI) that quantify collaborative qualities such as relationship building, power sharing, social learning, and trust building. Through critical review of conservation focused environmental governance literature, we identify social indicators and their corresponding social network metrics. The SNPI links each collaborative indicator with social network metrics, such as density, centrality, and reciprocity, to evaluate the health and performance of collaborative networks. The SNPI provides a quantitative foundation for understanding social processes in collaborative governance, supporting researcher and practitioner use of social network analysis (SNA), complementing qualitative and ethnographic methodologies. This review underscores how SNA can enhance the adaptability and resilience of environmental governance systems, ultimately contributing to more effective and inclusive conservation efforts. • Reviews how social network analysis measures social processes in environmental management. • Social Network Performance Indicators connect core social processes to social network metrics. • Offers a quantitative foundation for measuring on collaboration in environmental management.