Protected Areas and Regional Development in Europe

Protected areas in Europe have experienced considerable change with regard to their objectives. While originally created as reserves for beautiful landscapes and endangered species, they subsequently were used as a means to preserve whole ecosystems, with restrictions on human activities and impacts. More recently, protected areas are being considered as instruments for regional development, particularly in marginal regions that are facing severe economic and socio-cultural problems. Contrary to previous policies, where the focus was on conservation, new approaches aim to integrate conservation and development functions, making protected areas real 'living landscapes'. The policies attempt to integrate activities such as agriculture, forestry, handicrafts, tourism and education with the conservation and sustainability aspects. The past decade has seen a noticeable increase of these innovative and dynamic types of protected areas, such as Biosphere reserves or regional parks. However, the policies of individual European countries regarding protected areas is very varied, with some adopting these new policies and others much more traditional in approach. On top of this, EU regional policy needs to be considered. This volume provides a comprehensive overview of the relation between protected areas and regional development policies, both in theory and practice. Illustrated with a wide range of case studies from across Europe, it compares different concepts, strategies and instruments being used. In conclusion, it suggests the most innovatives and successful ways to use protected areas for regeneration and sustainable regional development.