1 A Knowledge-Based European Perspective on Sustainable Land …
7
correlations between demographic change and observable land use changes could be
found in the existing literature, and (b) what the result of the literature review means
for regional studies and regional development policies. The chapter contributes to a
more evidence-based view of the topic, helping to avoid misleading simplifications
and even myths on interlinkages that often influence concepts, values and decisions
in politics and policies shaping land use.
Urbanisation is seen as one of the major driving forces of today’s land use systems.
This phenomenon involves the usually irreversible conversion of mainly agricultural
land. Urban land use change can occur in quite different forms in terms of spatial
layout, building density and speed of change, to name but a few aspects. The global
dimension of urbanisation and related land use change is now on the agenda of
policy-makers and researchers worldwide. To provide an overview of these complex
processes, Nuissl and Siedentop endeavour in their chapter on Urbanisation and land
use change to achieve conceptual clarification, highlighting drivers and impacts. They
provide a systematic overview of influencing instruments and strategies for coping
with urban land use change.
In contrast to the urbanisation focus of the previous chapter, Doernberg and Weith
seek to expand the view towards an urban–rural interrelations perspective. Urban and
rural regions are no longer seen as distinct places, but as functionally connected in
the context of the sustainable use of land-related resources, quite often with blurring
boundaries. In recent years, both scientific and societal discourses have given new
impetus to this thematic debate. At the same time, it becomes quite obvious that there
are currently no conceptual approaches available that are comprehensive in terms
of content, and can capture the complexity of regional urban–rural interrelationships. In consequence, concepts are missing to provide practical support for regional
planning and regional development policies. The chapter on Urban–rural interrelations outlines the existing approaches, and highlights opportunities for developing
new concepts, especially by defining requirements of new concepts to overcome the
shortcomings of models currently in place in science and practice.
The chapters in part two “Co-production of knowledge” explain and discuss
explicit ways of knowledge co-production and co-dissemination to foster sustainable land management. In recent years, new ways of integrative knowledge generation have been developed and applied to find new solutions to complex real-world
problems. This includes land use issues, starting with problem definition through
identifying and describing land use conflicts to developing new land governance
processes. The involvement of various actor groups, such as political and administrative decision-makers, is an immanent part of the co-design and co-production
process. Especially transdisciplinary approaches, translated into the field of land
use sciences, are seen as adequate methodological ways to be tested and implemented in the context of land use challenges. They also show great promise for
creating social innovation processes. Various forms of simulation games and realworld labs are being discussed to support creative ways of handling new challenges
in land use. Quite often, these knowledge production processes are supported by new
ways of knowledge management, implementation and transfer, using the manifold
opportunities offered by digitalisation processes.
7
correlations between demographic change and observable land use changes could be
found in the existing literature, and (b) what the result of the literature review means
for regional studies and regional development policies. The chapter contributes to a
more evidence-based view of the topic, helping to avoid misleading simplifications
and even myths on interlinkages that often influence concepts, values and decisions
in politics and policies shaping land use.
Urbanisation is seen as one of the major driving forces of today’s land use systems.
This phenomenon involves the usually irreversible conversion of mainly agricultural
land. Urban land use change can occur in quite different forms in terms of spatial
layout, building density and speed of change, to name but a few aspects. The global
dimension of urbanisation and related land use change is now on the agenda of
policy-makers and researchers worldwide. To provide an overview of these complex
processes, Nuissl and Siedentop endeavour in their chapter on Urbanisation and land
use change to achieve conceptual clarification, highlighting drivers and impacts. They
provide a systematic overview of influencing instruments and strategies for coping
with urban land use change.
In contrast to the urbanisation focus of the previous chapter, Doernberg and Weith
seek to expand the view towards an urban–rural interrelations perspective. Urban and
rural regions are no longer seen as distinct places, but as functionally connected in
the context of the sustainable use of land-related resources, quite often with blurring
boundaries. In recent years, both scientific and societal discourses have given new
impetus to this thematic debate. At the same time, it becomes quite obvious that there
are currently no conceptual approaches available that are comprehensive in terms
of content, and can capture the complexity of regional urban–rural interrelationships. In consequence, concepts are missing to provide practical support for regional
planning and regional development policies. The chapter on Urban–rural interrelations outlines the existing approaches, and highlights opportunities for developing
new concepts, especially by defining requirements of new concepts to overcome the
shortcomings of models currently in place in science and practice.
The chapters in part two “Co-production of knowledge” explain and discuss
explicit ways of knowledge co-production and co-dissemination to foster sustainable land management. In recent years, new ways of integrative knowledge generation have been developed and applied to find new solutions to complex real-world
problems. This includes land use issues, starting with problem definition through
identifying and describing land use conflicts to developing new land governance
processes. The involvement of various actor groups, such as political and administrative decision-makers, is an immanent part of the co-design and co-production
process. Especially transdisciplinary approaches, translated into the field of land
use sciences, are seen as adequate methodological ways to be tested and implemented in the context of land use challenges. They also show great promise for
creating social innovation processes. Various forms of simulation games and realworld labs are being discussed to support creative ways of handling new challenges
in land use. Quite often, these knowledge production processes are supported by new
ways of knowledge management, implementation and transfer, using the manifold
opportunities offered by digitalisation processes.