GROWING TOMORROW’S RURAL SPACES: LOCAL VOICES ON INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY

• Type: Summary of Presentation in an International Conference
• Date: 2025

Authors

Pinto, Diogo Miguel da Silva (Author) FLUP; Almeida, João (Author) Other

Conference proceedings International

Title: Sustainable Transformation and Spatial Interaction of People and Places: Urban and Rural Landscapes for mobility, migration and tourism / 32nd APDR CONGRESS

Pages: 71-71

Sustainable Transformation and Spatial Interaction of People and Places: Urban and Rural Landscapes for mobility, migration and tourism

Porto, 8 - 11 julho 2025

Other information

Abstract (EN): This study investigates how local stakeholders perceive the interplay of sustainable development and innovation in Portuguese rural contexts, emphasising the Douro Demarcated Region. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire (featuring closed-ended, Likert-scale items) administered at regional events and the University of Porto, resulting in 246 responses from experts, researchers, policymakers, students, and other local stakeholders. The findings revealed a broad consensus regarding the importance of fostering sustainable development strategies that respond to evolving rural needs and contexts. However, participants diverged on the adequacy of current policy measures. Many underscored that genuine long-term vitality in rural spaces hinges on policies encouraging technological, social, and economic innovations while considering region-specific characteristics. To enrich these insights, a focus group of 30 rural geography students provided additional perspectives on the future of rural areas, envisioning intensified development (marked by tourism and advanced infrastructure) or ongoing depopulation if effective interventions are not implemented. Their ideas for promoting resilience and growth included financial incentives for families and businesses, increased education and capacity- building investments, improved telecommunication services to facilitate remote working, and youth-oriented projects that harness local resources for entrepreneurial ventures. These emergent themes underscore the need to balance targeted top-down policy support with bottom-up initiatives tailored to the distinctive needs of rural communities. Overall, this study’s combined findings signal that context-sensitive, inclusive strategies will be crucial for shaping rural areas as vibrant spaces capable of confronting contemporary challenges. This approach aligns with broader visions for stronger, connected, and resilient rural communities over the coming decades (European Commission, 2021; European Commission, 2024). In line with scholarly work on rural development, the results call for integrated frameworks that enable local innovation, participatory governance, and carefully crafted policy interventions (OECD, 2022). By addressing the pressing social, economic, and infrastructural issues that hinder rural progress, policymakers and community leaders can help rural regions thrive and remain sustainable well into the future. Keywords | Rural Development, Innovation, Sustainability, Local Stakeholders, Participatory Governance.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 1