Why do we work together? Motivations for collaboration in multifunctional conservation-oriented landscapes

Around the world, many environmental and social problems often appear together, such as biodiversity loss, soil degradation, and livelihood precarity. Integrated landscape approaches have emerged as a powerful way to tackle these intertwined crises at the scale of whole landscapes, but success depends on a factor often overlooked: the motivation of people to collaborate. The objective of this study is to review and synthesize the available scientific evidence of the reasons why actors choose to collaborate in multifunctional protected landscapes. Building on existing literature, we developed an analytical framework that views collaboration as a dynamic interplay between actor-level motivators (ranging from non-material relations to nature, community or organizational ties, to material benefits) and network-level motivators (shared goals, interdependence, trusted networks, effective interactions, and clear achievements). These drivers are further shaped by broader forces such as agency, legal frameworks, social and political context, the socioeconomic conditions, and biophysical contexts. Our findings reveal a crucial insight: sustainable collaboration cannot rest on a single motivator, such as financial gain, but thrives when a “bundle of motivators” is activated. To help organizations unlock this potential, we identify seven practical levers to strengthen collaboration and maximize the impact of integrated landscape approaches. By understanding and intentionally fostering these layered motivations, landscape management can move from fragmented efforts to transformative, long-term solutions for both people and nature.