Activation of rural areas through social dialogue for sustainable landscape management in the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve (UBR)

Abstract

The article presents the methodology and results of the first diagnostic phase of the socialization process Mugi Paisaia, carried out in two rural areas of the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, Ibarruri and Gorozika. The research is committed to a governance formula for the improvement of the integral and sustainable management of the Basque-Atlantic landscape. We start from socioterritorial dynamics that have been subjecting the territory to a serious state of vulnerability that has resulted in the loss of character and identity of the landscape. Therefore, the objective is based on collecting the neighborhood concerns of the traditional areas and generate working spaces for the diversity of agents that inhabit the landscape. For this we must listen to their needs and perceptions, detect opportunities and build requests agreed by consensus. As a result, we have obtained proposals capable of valuing local identity or strengthening the proximity relations, and that will be integrated into local planning policies. This is a key issue to perpetuate these communities and take corrective actions on current dynamics in terms of territorial sustainability and well-being.