Economic and sustainable development and management of land in small and medium-sized towns and villages of the Upper Rhine.
The Franco-German Environmental Research Institute (DFIU) of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and the Geography Laboratory 'Complex Geographical Systems' of the Geography and Land Management Faculty of the University of Strasbourg have come together in a cross-border project whose aim is to re-think land management in small and medium-sized districts within the Upper Rhine region.
The tri-national region of the Upper Rhine: an area in which to rethink land management
The Upper Rhine is a dynamic region whose obvious attractiveness is evidenced by an acceleration in the phenomenon of metropolitisation. Whether we are talking about the French, German or Swiss section of the region, the question of city growth is at the centre of everyone's preoccupations and the local politicians are of one voice on the matter. Land is a scarce and non-renewable resource which must be preserved. The idea of efficient and sustainable land management is gradually gaining ground for the preservation of the countryside, land and farming resources, while at the same time ensuring that the local population has a pleasant place in which to live and which is adapted to its needs. This region has three different planning systems and a great variety of practices, experiences, conceptions and ideas. This project aims to enhance this potential and this rich diversity in order to create new forms of land management.
German and French Mayors pulling together
The mayors of small and medium-sized towns and villages are directly confronted by everyday realities and problems. They are in charge of planning projects involving different players with diverging interests and contradictory aims and objectives. With limited means they are faced with complex problems and difficult choices.
The mayors of two pilot projects in certain towns and villages on both French and German sides of the Upper Rhine as well as partners from Switzerland and the Palatinate region are members of a 'think-tank' on topics of land management which can be seen as common ground for local development in small and medium-sized communities of the Upper Rhine.
Getting things going: learning from each other
The dialogue which runs throughout this project is based upon the exchange of practices and experiences. These exchanges represent the starting point of more detailed work and, if possible, experiments which will bring together other players in land management (French and German regional natural parks and planning commissions etc.). New synergies may then emerge: all the players in the process are mobilised as well as private enterprise and the community.
The results: working towards new practices, new tools for thinking and managing the land
Beyond the notion of sharing knowledge and experience, identifying know-how and innovative practices, new guidelines and tools adapted to the needs of land management of the small and medium-sized towns and villages need to be developed. In order to share such results in the best possible way and to debate them with all the mayors and other key players, the project envisages a touring exhibition as well as regular visits to the various sites. The setting up of a network including participants in careful land management will make such sharing possible.
This project is supported by the European Union within the INTERREG IV A – Upper Rhine programme
Eucor Partners
- Université de Strasbourg
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
