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

Nora Mehnen, Ingo Mose, Peter Schaal, Frans Sijtsma, José Muñoz-Rojas, Mariia Fedoriak and Per Angelstam ()
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Nora Mehnen: Working Group Spatial Planning and Regional Development, Faculty of Architecture and Landscape Sciences, Institute of Environmental Planning, Leibniz University Hannover, Herrenhäuser Str. 2, D-30419 Hannover, Germany
Ingo Mose: Applied Geography and Environmental Planning Research Group, Institute for Biology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty V—School of Mathematics and Science, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Ammerländer Heerstrasse 114-118, D-26129 Oldenburg, Germany
Peter Schaal: Applied Geography and Environmental Planning Research Group, Institute for Biology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty V—School of Mathematics and Science, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Ammerländer Heerstrasse 114-118, D-26129 Oldenburg, Germany
Frans Sijtsma: Department of Economic Geography, Faculty of Spatial Sciences, University of Groningen, Landleven 1, 9747 AD Groningen, The Netherlands
José Muñoz-Rojas: Environment and Development, & CHANGE-LAB-Associated Lab on Global Change and Sustainability, Department of Geosciences, MED-Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Universidade de Évora Polo da Mitra, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal
Mariia Fedoriak: Department of Ecology and Biomonitoring, Chernivtsi National University, Kotsyubyns’koho Str. 2, 58012 Chernivtsi, Chernivtsi Oblast, Ukraine
Per Angelstam: Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Applied Ecology, Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Evenstad Campus, Anne Evenstads Vei 80, N-2480 Koppang, Norway

Land, 2023, vol. 12, issue 4, 1-21

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 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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