All over the world planners are developing novel approaches to manage urban growth in more sustainable ways, in ways more sensitive to spatial quality and to social, economic and ecological contexts. There is a widely shared understanding that the success of such approaches depends on the possibilities to integrate an almost overwhelming variety of objectives. Smart […]
Last weekend I had the pleasure to be invited to join a conference on rural innovation organized by the Alberta Centre for Sustainable Rural Communities (ACSRC) and Battle River Alliance for Economic Development (BRAED). The conference offered community development professionals, councilors, mayors, and a range of other people actively involved in governing the rural areas, […]
The set-up of the Fitness Check of the Birds and Habitats Directive strongly indicates a political wish to reform legislation. Drawing on numerous studies towards the implementation of EU Nature Legislation I advice against such reform as its costs are likely to exceed the benefits it will bring. It would be more sensible to facilitate […]
The Dutch region Gelderse Vallei en Eemland, also called Food Valley, is an area in transition. The developments in agricultural sector are an important driving force behind this transition. Agricultural activities, both intensive livestock farming as well as more multifunctional farms, traditionally dominate the landscape. Currently the region is witnessing further intensification of the sector, […]