Nature parks as instruments for sustainable integrated regional development: Review of a survey of opinions from stakeholders in Luxembourg

Abstract

Today, protected areas have gained significant recognition in local development programmes, acting as instruments for sustainable integrated development. Whereas these goals have been achieved in some areas, in others, the idea remains contested and challenging. This paper focuses on strategies for integrating environmental conservation, economic prosperity, local wellbeing and resource governance, to probe the extent to which these are contributing to the appreciation of Nature Parks as instruments for sustainable development in Luxembourg. Two case studies indicate that adopting a multifunctional character, away from the traditional policy of pure conservation, is having important implications for rural development. Strategies for environmental education, innovative production and collaborative governance are setting a new standard of management and bringing forth new identities in rural areas. However, concrete social policies are lacking and local participation in Nature Parks’ activities is insufficient. These limitations have most often been translated into questions such as, conservation for whom? It is, therefore, suggested that management strategies in Nature Parks be monitored routinely, using appropriate sustainability indicators, in order to ensure anticipated outcomes.