Countryside Planning: Policies, Processes and Regulation

Landscapes constitute an arena for a multitude of activities and processes, ranging from biophysical processes to residential, recreational and production functions. As societies evolve, new demands for environmental protection, recreation, nature and cultural heritage protection are sharply contrasted with traditional rural production functions and therefore demand innovative and integrated planning solutions. In parallel, mega-drivers, such as globalisation, sustainable development and urbanisation, pose new challenges and opportunities for the future use and regulation of landscapes. In modern societies, physical and strategical planning is an important tool to minimize conflicts between functions and support the sustainable use of resources.

The course studies contemporary issues, functions and conflicts in different landscapes, ranging from traditional rural to peri-urban settings. Landscapes are examined as arenas where different sectoral plans and policies provide a framework for contemporary rural and peri-urban society. Focus is on different approaches to countryside planning, the role of different actors and the resulting functions and processes, within the wider framework of national and international regulation and policy framework.