In light of the current debate on decentralisation, local governance and sustainable development principles, many scholars put emphasis on collective management systems. These participative processes are analysed as solutions that should be implemented by development practitioners. For example, several European countries (i.e. France) favour public policies for the development of rural areas relying on the idea that the enhancement and protection of natural and cultural assets should be entrusted to local government and communities.

The aim of our communication is to present an analytical grid to explain and understand the modalities of coordination of the local actors involved in sustainable forest management. According to an institutionnalist point of view (Bromley, 1991, 1992 ; Oakerson, 1992 ; Ostrom, 1990, 2000) and mobilizing the social capital theory (Bourdieu, 1987; Lin, 1995, 2001; Putnam, 1993, 2000 ; Woolcok and Narayan, 2000), we show social determinants are likely to influence the integration of sustainability issues in the forest resource management practices. We also analyse the capacity of the socio-ecological systems to resist external shocks (Anderies, Janssen and Ostrom, 2004).