Publications (FIS)

Periphery and Integrated Planning

Coping with Rural and Touristic Challenges across Scales in the German Wadden Sea Region

authored by: Nora Mehnen, Ingo Mose, Peter Schaal, Frans Sijtsma, José Muñoz-Rojas, Mariia Fedoriak, Per Angelstam
Abstract: Rural landscapes face multiple challenges, but they can be attractive for developing nature-based tourism. Encouraging place-based participatory governance in local communities represents a relevant transdisciplinary landscape approach. In this study, we map (1) rural and touristic challenges and (2) coping strategies in peripheral–rural municipalities, and we (3) discuss the need for integration of local and regional-level actions. Two island and two mainland municipalities with different demographic profiles and different degrees of touristic specialization in the German Wadden Sea Region were selected as case studies. Through meetings and interviews we mapped perceived challenges and analyzed policies and other coping strategies. We then discuss the need for integration at multiple scales. Island municipalities were more exposed to tourism development challenges than mainland municipalities. Securing public services and welfare, and the sustainable conservation of ecological green infrastructures were particularly challenging. Applying a participatory approach was a coping strategy at the local level. However, there is a need for activities at multiple scales. In coping with rural development challenges, local level participatory approaches and regional planning complement each other. Combination and integration of local and regional-level concepts should be encouraged to support collaborative learning through evaluation.
Organisation(s): Institute of Environmental Planning
External Organisation(s): Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg
University of Groningen
Universidade de Evora
Chernovtsy National University
Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences (INN)
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Type: Article
Journal: Land
Volume: 12
Publication date: 18.04.2023
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Global and Planetary Change, Ecology, Nature and Landscape Conservation
Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.3390/land12040904 (Access: Open)

BibTeX

@article{1d03f69b650e4b65b82b483bdc9ede83,
title = "Periphery and Integrated Planning: Coping with Rural and Touristic Challenges across Scales in the German Wadden Sea Region",
abstract = "Rural landscapes face multiple challenges, but they can be attractive for developing nature-based tourism. Encouraging place-based participatory governance in local communities represents a relevant transdisciplinary landscape approach. In this study, we map (1) rural and touristic challenges and (2) coping strategies in peripheral–rural municipalities, and we (3) discuss the need for integration of local and regional-level actions. Two island and two mainland municipalities with different demographic profiles and different degrees of touristic specialization in the German Wadden Sea Region were selected as case studies. Through meetings and interviews we mapped perceived challenges and analyzed policies and other coping strategies. We then discuss the need for integration at multiple scales. Island municipalities were more exposed to tourism development challenges than mainland municipalities. Securing public services and welfare, and the sustainable conservation of ecological green infrastructures were particularly challenging. Applying a participatory approach was a coping strategy at the local level. However, there is a need for activities at multiple scales. In coping with rural development challenges, local level participatory approaches and regional planning complement each other. Combination and integration of local and regional-level concepts should be encouraged to support collaborative learning through evaluation.",
keywords = "demographic transitions, governance, landscape approach, rural development, tourism",
author = "Nora Mehnen and Ingo Mose and Peter Schaal and Frans Sijtsma and Jos{\'e} Mu{\~n}oz-Rojas and Mariia Fedoriak and Per Angelstam",
note = "Funding Information: Financial support from German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) through the funding measure “Kommunen innovativ” is gratefully acknowledged. Grant to Per Angelstam from FORMAS (grant number 2017-1342) and the Sustainable Landscape & Regions Research theme of the University of Groningen{\textquoteright}s Rudolf Agricola School. National funds have also been obtained by Jos{\'e} Mu{\~n}oz-Rojas from the FCT (Funda{\c c}{\~a}o para a Ci{\^e}ncia e a Tecnologia—Portugal), the CHANGE laboratory, and the MED—Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment, and Development (University of {\'E}vora), funded by Project UIDB/05183/2020.",
year = "2023",
month = apr,
day = "18",
doi = "10.3390/land12040904",
language = "English",
volume = "12",
journal = "Land",
issn = "2073-445X",
publisher = "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute",
number = "4",
}