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Research article2023Peer reviewedOpen access

Periphery and Integrated Planning: Coping with Rural and Touristic Challenges across Scales in the German Wadden Sea Region

Mehnen, Nora; Mose, Ingo; Schaal, Peter; Sijtsma, Frans; Munoz-Rojas, Jose; Fedoriak, Mariia; Angelstam, Per

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

Published in

Land
2023, Volume: 12, number: 4, article number: 904Publisher: MDPI

      SLU Authors

    Sustainable Development Goals

    SDG14 Life below water

    UKÄ Subject classification

    Ecology
    Human Geography

    Publication identifier

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/land12040904

    Permanent link to this page (URI)

    https://res.slu.se/id/publ/122183