TY - JOUR

T1 - Contributions of Net-Map to sustainability action research

AU - Cortés-Calderón, Sofía Valeria

AU - López-Rodríguez, María D.

AU - Jiménez-Aceituno, Amanda

AU - Castro, Antonio J.

AU - Mancilla-García, María

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Authors

PY - 2025/8

Y1 - 2025/8

N2 - Net-Map, an interview-based network mapping tool, has been applied across various scientific fields and purposes since its inception to study networks of influence. In this article, we first review the general uses and limitations of Net-Map and then share experiential knowledge gained from using Net-Map to develop an action-oriented research process focused on envisioning pathways to sustainable futures in Spanish drylands. Drawing from the literature and reflecting on our experience, we identified four practical contributions of Net-Map that support our action-oriented research process, including: 1) creating socially inclusive participatory spaces that capture a diversity of influential capacities for promoting sustainability transformations, 2) understanding how to articulate transformative changes at multiple scales, 3) anticipating conflicts and managing power imbalances across scales, and 4) building shared agency and capabilities for fostering collective action, while respecting differences between participants’ perspectives. This paper argues how Net-Map can help overcome common barriers in action-oriented research.

AB - Net-Map, an interview-based network mapping tool, has been applied across various scientific fields and purposes since its inception to study networks of influence. In this article, we first review the general uses and limitations of Net-Map and then share experiential knowledge gained from using Net-Map to develop an action-oriented research process focused on envisioning pathways to sustainable futures in Spanish drylands. Drawing from the literature and reflecting on our experience, we identified four practical contributions of Net-Map that support our action-oriented research process, including: 1) creating socially inclusive participatory spaces that capture a diversity of influential capacities for promoting sustainability transformations, 2) understanding how to articulate transformative changes at multiple scales, 3) anticipating conflicts and managing power imbalances across scales, and 4) building shared agency and capabilities for fostering collective action, while respecting differences between participants’ perspectives. This paper argues how Net-Map can help overcome common barriers in action-oriented research.

KW - Engineering

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105006660313&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.cosust.2025.101542

DO - 10.1016/j.cosust.2025.101542

M3 - Scientific review articles

AN - SCOPUS:105006660313

VL - 75

JO - Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability

JF - Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability

SN - 1877-3435

M1 - 101542

ER -