Social network analysis and the implications for Pontocaspian biodiversity conservation in Romania and Ukraine: A comparative study

project. After engagement, stakeholders which were found to lack any activity or interest in (conservation of) Pontocaspian biodiversity were omitted, resulting in a final list of 17 insti- tutes (Fig 1 and Table 1). We assigned these stakeholders to three different categories based on their function and responsibilities, knowingly academic (Acad), governmental (Gov) and non- governmental organizations (NGO). For comparison, the Ukrainian network consisted of 22 stakeholders of which nine were academic institutions, five governmental organizations, three nongovernmental organizations and five protected areas (Pa) [17]. The Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Authority (DDA) administers the biosphere reserve and serves as a local environmental agency. Besides the administration, it has educational and regulatory (e.g. issuing research permits) functions within the biosphere reserve. The analo- gous organization in Ukraine, the Danube Biosphere Reserve (DBR) does not have administra- tive and regulatory functions but instead focuses on research, environmental monitoring and education, as well as on ecotourism. DDA was under commission of the Ministry of Environ- ment of Romania until July 2017, but was transferred under commission of the Romanian Government one week before the interview (July 2017). Presently, DDA is again back under commission of the Ministry of Environment. During the interview, DDA identified itself as a governmental organization and was therefore grouped with governmental organizations. Data collection

We obtained the qualitative and quantitative network data using an identical survey ques- tionnaire that was previously used in a similar study in Ukraine [17]. We interviewed the Fig 1. Map of the study area. Black stars on the map represent the stakeholder institutions (see IDs in Table 1). Green shading indicates major Pontocaspian habitats. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0221833.g001 PLOS ONE Social network analysis and the implications for Pontocaspian biodiversity conservation in Romania and Ukraine PLOS ONE | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0221833 October 23, 2020 4 / 20