Towards sustainable rural development: landscape approach for integrative knowledge production and learning

Abstract

The current depopulation of Lithuania leads to declining population density and therefore to deteriorating social networks, especially in rural areas. This has negative consequences for the quality of life and social capital. It is thus crucial to empower rural stakeholders to cope with the future development of sparsely populated areas. One solution is to develop new types of jobs linked to natural, biocultural and cultural heritage. The aim of the European Union’s policy about green infrastructure is to maintain functional networks of natural and semi-natural areas that sustain biodiversity and deliver ecosystem services for human well-being. This calls for application of landscape approach based on development of place-based partnerships aiming at knowledge production and learning about protection, management and restoration of different types of green infrastructure. Model Forest, Biosphere Reserve and Long-Term Socio-Ecological Research platform are three examples of landscape approach concepts. Based on a review of initiatives to implement these three concepts in western and eastern Europe we conclude that a successful strategy to practice the landscape approach would be to enhance the spatial planning capacity of Lithuania and countries in a similar position. This requires (1) reducing disciplinary formal and informal control of integrative knowledge production and learning by securing successive projects with a long-term strategy, (2) engaging stakeholders at multiple levels of governance, (3) engage and integrate social and natural science research and stakeholders into place-based problem-solving activities, and (4) team building based on self-reflection and experienced leadership.[...]