## 2 Analytical Framework: Typifying Challenges of Governance for Sustainable Regional Development
### Environmental Dimension  
In this paper, the environment is understood as a synonym for nature when both notions are understood as social constructs [57; 58]. As such, its meaning and significance change over time to be subjected to pathways of social groups and communities in a region. Thus, the environmental dimension is operationalized in a twofold way following the framework's conceptual assumptions by demarcating the relationship between nature and society, highlighting its anthropocentric or eco-centric tendency [59]. _Convergence_ is understood here as a function of anthropocentric or eco-centric predominant values.  
Figure 1: Analytical framework for sustainable regional development governance challenges. Source: authors.  
The anthropocentric view describes a relationship where nature and its components are understood as natural resources to be explored and exploited; its intrinsic value is perceived as property and its management is instrumental [60]. In contrast, the eco-centric view evidences recognition of nature's intrinsic value as well as its biological and eco-systemic relevance. _Integration_ is understood here as a function of the level of organization of social groups whereby the regional actors' relationship with nature can be either based on collective or atomized practices.  
**Collective conservation:**_Integration_ refers to the quantity and quality of articulation between the different actors and their relationship to the environment. Higher levels of _integration_ are associated with more organized and collective, coordinated practices around environmental awareness and preservation. _Convergence_ clusters a dominant rationale in the existing relationship between society and nature in a region. A high grade of _convergence_ therefore suggests the prevalence of eco-centric or ecological visions.  
**Collective predation:** This indicates high levels of _integration_, but low levels of _convergence_. Such cases portray elevated levels of coordination between the local actors embedded in anthropocentric collective practices of the exploitation or degradation of nature. This can be the case, for example, when there is the presence of a small-scale mining industry with little social or environmental awareness in a region.  
**Atomized conservation:** This features a situation where nonexistent or little articulation and coordination amongst actors takes place in a region where eco-centric and ecological logics regarding the territory and the environment are common and widespread. For instance, regions where ecological initiatives and organizations are operating, yet their actions are rather isolated and fragmented, lacking any further linkages between each other and their goals.  
**Atomized predation:** This describes situations with little or no cooperation or coordination among the local actors with regard to their environment and its natural resources. The prevalence of anthropocentric views and perceptions is typical for such regions where exploitation and degradation of nature are common features, lacking any recognition of the intrinsic eco-systemic value of nature and its resources.