The main purpose of this paper is to create a composite indicator of the extent of overtourism by using optimization (cross-entropy-based rank aggregation), and an objective ranking of 28 European locations declared to be affected by overtourism. Further aim of the paper is to contribute to the establishment of a standard that objectively measures the extent of tourism to produce a dynamic ranking of selected European settlements. The multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods were used to rank the 28 overtouristed sites according to 7 criteria (indicators) and 10 years (from 2014 to 2023). The annual changes in the rankings are presented graphically using principal component analysis on a two-dimensional space, referred to as the ‘‘sites’ space.’’ Through the use of the K-means algorithm the sites were clustered based on the level of overtourism. The applied methods with novel rank aggregation contribute to the relevant indicators to overtourism

Besides its functional character, shopping also has notable recreational aspects. Thus, it is not surprising that it is one of the most frequent and favoured activities among tourists. Cities are ideal destinations for tourist shoppers, as they offer the opportunity to combine shopping, sightseeing and various leisure activities. Shopping malls are particularly popular among tourists; some centres are even considered destinations in their own right, as they not only provide diverse retail facilities but also offer various leisure and entertainment opportunities. Understanding the factors that shape the retail experience is a key to the success of shopping centres as well as tourist destinations. As opposed to traditional methods of examining consumers’ opinions on shopping malls – such as questionnaire surveys or interviews – the analysis of online reviews may help to explore a broader range of factors influencing satisfaction.

This presentation aims to introduce the appeal of shopping malls in Budapest among tourists through a quantitative and qualitative analysis of reviews posted by visitors on TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel guidance platform. It evaluates international visitors’ opinions on shopping malls in Budapest and highlights the factors influencing their satisfaction or dissatisfaction with these complexes. By exploring tourists’ opinions, the presentation provides implications for mall operators and destination management organisations to enhance visitors’ shopping experiences thereby increasing the attractiveness of malls and contributing to the competitiveness of Budapest as a destination.

The hypermobility of contemporary societies has been increasingly challenged by interconnected crises in recent years, which have raised awareness about the impact of human mobility on urban systems and his governance. However, mobility remains central in the current hyper-industrial economic system. While attention has largely focused on tourist flows and the extreme touristification of global cities, it is becoming increasingly difficult to separate the effects of tourism from the broader processes of urbanization.

Now days, the urban phenomenon is increasingly to be seen as a processual and emergent assemblage of diverse spatial-temporal practices, challenging traditional notions of fixed, measurable urban units. In this context, hypermobility has become the main organizer of the society, shaping daily experiences. These changes blur distinctions between tourists and residents, mobility and migration, and individuals and places. At the same time, new and significant challenges emerge concerning recognition, multiple-belonging and citizenship, the changes in social morphology, the democratic governance of metropolitan space-times, and the current forms of exploitation in which mobility is a fundamental element.

Recognizing the unprecedented nature of contemporary circulation, this communication proposes a new epistemological framework that integrates insights from six different academic fields, usually read separately, focusing on social reproduction as a core aspect of contemporary processes of accumulation, where circulation (beyond tourism, migration, or commuting) is the central organizing factor.

The first section connects the transformation of urban space-times driven by hypermobility with characteristics of the current economic system. Contributions from the workerism tradition are examined in dialogue with feminist literature, highlighting centrality of social reproduction in space-time production. The framework also engages with recent geographic theories of planetary urbanization, urban assemblages, and intensive heterogeneity, along with new approaches in mobility and tourism studies, time geography, and sectorial studies on temporary populations' impacts in cities, such as touristification, studentification and gentrification.

This communication find that the crises associated with hypermobility are primarily crises of conceptual frameworks, calling for new epistemological approaches to grasp the connection between urban assemblages and human circulation.

Destination choice behaviour is increasingly influenced by online reviews, messages and opinions (E-WOM) about the destination. Online media can significantly impact a tourist destination’s image (Amaro & Duarte 2016). It can also create confusion, increasing the perception of the destination as risky (Chemli et al. 2022). Managing this in the presence of multiple sources of information takes much work. The primary aim of the research is to explore and understand consumer concerns about online space and innovative technologies. We see that the main difference between all age groups is whether they plan to travel abroad or domestically. This seems to be confirmed by international research and our own representative research - which we conducted in September 2024, by the way, with a representative survey of 1,000 Hungarian travelers (by age, gender, occupation, income and place of residence). In general, it was also found that domestic travellers are a bit more courageous. We see that they are more likely to book their own hotel rooms, air or train tickets or programmes than older generations. Also compared to other generations, a much higher proportion of Generation Z youth use AI-based solutions for their bookings than do not. While the average Generation Z young person uses AI 15% of the time, Generation Y only 10% and Generation X only 5% use AI for their bookings. This correlates with the trend of younger people using such technologies at a higher rate than older people.

This paper explores international migration inflows in two small islands in the outermost archipelagic regions of the European Union, El Hierro (Canary Islands, Spain) and Pico (Azores, Portugal), focusing on their connection to tourism and the intertwined work and life-cycle transitions of international immigrants. Drawing on data from the ELDEMOR project (www.eldemor.es) and the RE-PLACE project (https://replace-horizon.eu), the study is based on fieldwork involving in-depth interviews with 30 international immigrants and key informants on both islands. The findings argue that tourism provides valuable insights into the life cycle transitions of international immigrants attracted by the unique tourist-economic appeal of remote locations. These immigrants also play a critical role in shaping tourism development in these areas.

The research hypothesis underpinning the article posits that life-cycle transitions—from tourists to permanent immigrants, or from workers to entrepreneurs—highlight the dynamic relationship between migration and tourism. The early stages of tourism on small islands often coincide with the arrival of foreign-born workers and investors, whose personal and professional transitions reflect and shape the evolving tourism models of these destinations. In turn, tourism partly triggers migration, while migration influences specific forms of tourism development.

El Hierro and Pico are significant case studies in sustainable tourism for small, remote islands with fragile ecosystems. Both islands emphasize environmental sustainability and niche tourism over mass tourism, focusing on unique attractions that appeal to specialized market segments. Their approaches support local economies without overwhelming them, integrating tourism with traditional sectors like agriculture. These sustainable models offer valuable lessons for other fragile destinations, balancing economic, environmental, and social priorities.

Moreover, these islands attract immigrants drawn not only by typical lifestyle aspirations, such as seeking a "rural idyll" or "a new life," but also by a desire for "differentiation" and "uniqueness." This distinct motivation underscores how migration and tourism intersect in shaping the socio-economic fabric of remote island communities, offering a framework for understanding and promoting sustainable and resilient tourism development worldwide.

Spending time in second homes has long been a popular activity for tourists, especially in wealthier countries. Still, work and school schedules traditionally limited the use of these properties to weekends and holidays. The Covid-19 pandemic, however, highlighted how the digitalization of work made it possible for a larger portion of the population to work remotely, thereby facilitating the development of multilocal living arrangements. In this new context, second homes have increasingly become central to these spatial arrangements. This paper aims to explore how the use of second homes has evolved during and after the Covid-19 pandemic, focusing on northern Sweden as a case study. The research addresses the challenge of measuring mobility by using geo-coded cellphone data. By combining cellphone location data with second-home ownership patterns, the study assesses how second home usage has shifted and identifies geographic characteristics that correlate with multilocal living. Preliminary findings suggest that not all second home areas are part of multilocal living arrangements, with properties in more desirable locations being used more frequently. The paper concludes by discussing the potential impacts of these changing patterns on destination communities.

Thematic routes connecting natural and cultural attractions offer innovative opportunities for promoting responsible tourism development and addressing the challenges of overtourism in today’s polycrisis environment. By distributing visitor flows more evenly across time and space, these routes not only mitigate the negative effects of concentrated tourism but also encourage the inclusion of less-visited settlements and regions in tourism networks. Such initiatives align with the principles of slow tourism, providing more meaningful travel experiences that emphasize quality over quantity. Linear thematic routes are particularly appealing to modern, experience-driven tourists due to their flexible and customizable nature. Pilgrimage routes offer unique opportunities for physical (walking routes), spiritual (reflective journeys), and intellectual (cultural and historical) enrichment. However, the success and sustainability of such routes depend on stakeholder collaboration requiring continuous communication, shared goal-setting, and coordinated management strategies. The proposed research explores the potential of pilgrimage routes to embody principles of responsible tourism focusing on sites associated with the heritage of Saint Ladislaus I of Hungary (c. 1040-1095) within the Carpathian Basin. The findings contribute to the discourse on sustainable tourism mobility, showcasing how pigrimage routes connecting both popular and emerging sites can serve as tools for local empowerment as well as the reimagination of tourism mobility in a more balanced and responsible manner. In addition to creating an inventory of the region’s Saint Ladislaus-related sites and mapping their possible connection with existing hiking trails, the study is based on interviews with stakeholders (representing religious sites, nature protection, hiking associations and DMOs).

Silence is a millennia-old legacy of the Judeo-Christian cultural community and a pillar of European sustainability. Parallel to when Europe's map of silence began to be redrawn at the dawn of the industrial revolution, the understanding of silence broadened. As urbanisation progressed, the noise, initially characterizing the big cities, gradually encroached into the countryside, and more sources appeared as the erosion of silence. The opposite of silence, noise is now not only an unwanted auditory perception, but also a phenomenon that has a negative impact on the individual’s peacefulness. The tourism mobility, which nowadays become a lifestyle, has contributed significantly to the decline of quiet places; moreover, the development of transport networks and technological progress have made tourists themselves the carrier of noise. In the era of total tourism, travellers not only spread in Europe horizontally and vertically, but also the seasonality of the demand narrowed. As a result, destinations and sites that had been built on and integrated silence as an attraction became noisy places. One of the paradoxes of tourism, which has become increasingly widespread in space and time, is that the tourist, escaping from the noise of everyday life, eliminates that very silence he or she craves. The phenomenon of over-tourism in the 21st century has led to a restriction of tourist flows and consumption of spaces, and to the preservation of silence by different means. The results presented in this presentation have been explored in the research project "Geographical dimensions of understanding the notion of good place within the context of total tourism" (OTKA K134877) and they answer the following questions: (1) How can silence be understood as an attraction in tourism? (2) Which destinations and sites include silence as an integral part of their attractiveness? (3) How much silence plays a role in becoming a good place? (4) What are the threats to quiet places in the age of total tourism? (5) What can management do to preserve silence as Europe's heritage? Silence has been a surprisingly under-studied topic in tourism sustainability and heritage conservation research; for this reason, this presentation aims to narrow this gap by focusing on Europe.

The 15-Minute City concept has emerged as a transformative approach to urban planning, aiming to create sustainable, livable, and resilient urban environments by ensuring essential services and amenities are accessible within a 15-minute walk or bike ride. Beyond its functional goals, the concept represents a paradigm shift towards fostering community, inclusivity, and human-centered urban design. This study offers a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the 15-Minute City concept, addressing its spatial and social characteristics, sustainable mobility.

Using data from the Web of Science and Scopus, and employing tools such as Vos Viewer, the study identifies key trends, research gaps, and influential contributions within the field. Three types of bibliometric indicators—quantity, quality, and structural—are applied alongside network analyses, including co-keyword, co-authorship, and co-citation mapping, to cover significant clusters in the 15-Minute City literature.

Despite its growing prominence, the concept lacks a unified definition, with interpretations ranging from 15-minute neighborhoods to similar initiatives like healthy streets. This study systematically examines global research patterns, offering insights into the most productive authors, institutions, and countries, as well as influential topics and sources. It highlights the challenges of integrating theoretical frameworks with practical implementations and addresses gaps in longitudinal and interdisciplinary research.

Findings from this analysis provide actionable insights for researchers and practitioners to develop strategic publication plans and advance the discourse on the 15-Minute City. By identifying critical research directions and fostering collaboration across disciplines, this study contributes to refining the concept’s framework and enhancing its practical applicability. Ultimately, the research underscores the potential of the 15-Minute City to transform urban living by promoting sustainability, accessibility, and community well-being. This study is part of the DUT-funded project, AccessCity4All.

The proposal addresses the concept of accessibility by proximity to reframe the role of proximity in planning initiatives, pursuing the X min city model. It challenges the conventional view of proximity as a purely functional issue – focused on physical spatial-temporal access conditions – and moves beyond the traditional emphasis on dense, compact urban contexts of X min city policies. The paper reconceptualizes proximity as both a functional and relational construct. The latter highlights the impact of collective exchanges of resources spontaneously activated through collaborations within a community sharing specific accessibility-related needs, problems and mobility opportunities. Recognising the collective nature of accessibility and proximity can enhance the inclusivity, sustainability, and accessibility of X-minute city policies. However, the paper argues this is achievable if i) new metrics are developed that capture the dual contribution of functional and relational proximity to accessibility; and ii) accessibility by proximity is pursued, by planning policy, as a proper normative goal rather than (only) as a positive/evaluative one. These objectives are complementary within the X min city model: normative uses of accessibility by proximity require its positive application and both are crucial for dealing with the emerging criticalities of this model such as neglecting relational aspects, standardising or underestimating diverse needs, and perpetuating existing inequalities (Cooke et al. 2022). Additional risks involve limited replicability in suburban, peri-urban and rural areas (Guzman et al., 2021) or potential gentrification and displacement of vulnerable populations (Dunning et al. 2021; Haarstad et al., 2022: Poorthuis & Zook, 2023; Guironnet & Halbert, 2020).

The paper presents a novel interpretation of accessibility by proximity, emphasising its dual dimensions and normative implications to address the challenges of implementing the X-minute city model. Drawing on findings from two research projects (EX-TRA Project and Common Access Project), it offers an operational framework for dealing with new metrics of functional and relational accessibility by proximity - and its positive and normative dimensions – especially in peri-urban regions and urban outskirts.

The 15-minute city concept has become a popular and actionable framework for accessibility-based planning. However, narrow interpretations of the concept are problematic as they prescribe a complete decentralization of urban functions overlooking the holistic nature of the 15 min city concept. Such narrow interpretations may lead to unrealistic goals or adverse effects on sustainability and social inclusion, particularly in less dense urban areas, limiting the concept’s applicability and its ability to achieve desired outcomes. Therefore, this paper proposes pathways for place-based, people-centered accessibility planning to achieve the underlying ideals of the 15-minute city across diverse urban forms. Departing from the view that cities function as complex adaptive systems, characterized by dynamic and partly uncoordinated interactions among urban agents, the paper calls for a condition-based approach that fosters various potential transport and land-use configurations within set but adaptable normative boundaries. Participatory processes and adaptability are central to this approach, as they enable co-exploration of development pathways and responsiveness to change through generating situational accessibility knowledge, mutual learning, and cyclical assessment of normative boundaries.

The 15-minute City has emerged as a promising solution to many challenges associated with urbanisation. However, implementing this model is complex, given the stratified, dynamic, and animated nature of cities. Across Europe, numerous initiatives inspired by the 15-minute City concept are transforming urban spaces. This paper examines the case study of Haakon VII Street (H7) in Trondheim, Norway, focusing on its transition from a car-centred area to a people-centred urban space. Historically, H7 functioned as a peripheral and frequently repurposed site. However, the increasing demand for housing in Trondheim has prompted plans for its redevelopment. Using walking interviews and participatory mapping as data collection methods, this research employs thematic analysis to interpret findings. Three key themes have emerged: (1) centralit-ies, as H7 is analysed not as an isolated fragment but as a generative part of the city, with the potential to evolve into a significant urban centre. This theme explores its role in redefining Trondheim’s polycentric landscape within the 15-minute City paradigm; (2) integration, exploring how the emerging centrality of H7 can be harmonised with the broader urban fabric. The research highlights the importance of fostering connections with other parts of the city while ensuring H7 retains its unique identity, avoiding homogenisation; (3) verticality, inspired by plans to densify the area through mixed-function vertical buildings, this theme examines physical and digital verticalities (the latter being: exploring this site connections with related sites and cities) to support sustainable, vibrant, and inclusive urban development. This study contributes to the discourse on the 15-minute City by examining the identification and potential development of a “new centre” within Trondheim. It offers insights into how a historically peripheral space can be reimagined and provides insights into the implications of such transformations at the city level. The research set the stage to explore what it truly means for a city to embrace the principles of the 15-minute City and how such transformations can inform future urban development strategies.

The concept of the 15-minute city has been developing in a direction of greater flexibility and applicability to serve a broader variety of urbanization conditions. Peri-urban areas, where many people live and work across Europe, are an important frontier to implement the principles of liveability, accessibility and proximity that support the 15-minute city, as these dynamic areas are deeply embedded in ongoing socio-ecological transitions but may struggle to comply with sustainability goals and provide a high quality of life for their inhabitants. This is usually attributed to the difficulties in applying spatial development models designed for dense core cities to territories characterized by low density, spatial and demographic fragmentation, loose connections to mobility networks, and interdependence with vast natural and rural areas.

In this research, we argue that tackling these challenges requires a deeper engagement with peri-urban territories, their spaces, institutions and communities. Indeed, since the efforts to implement 15-minute city principles are substantially larger and the likelihood of quick rewards for policymakers is substantially smaller, peri-urban areas fly below the radar of policy and planning priorities. They are reduced to ‘peripheries’ as a generic urban type, with little attention paid to different spatial structures, functions, networks, socioeconomic conditions, cultural preferences and governance resources.

In response, we develop a typology of European peri-urban areas, differentiated according to their present conditions and future potentials regarding the alignment with 15-minute city principles of liveability, proximity and accessibility. Based on peri-urban areas in four European countries whose features are sufficiently representative, complementary and diverse, we conduct a cluster analysis based on spatial and demographic indicators that are relevant for the potential urban transitions along 15-minute city ideas. These areas vary spatially, functionally, culturally and institutionally, allowing transferable lessons to be learned across peri-urban Europe. A series of emerging peri-urban types are mapped and further characterized with additional governance analysis and data collected in focus groups, providing institutional and social insights that ground the understanding of the different types. The result is a typological catalogue informing further studies and policies about the conditions, potentials and development needs towards 15-minute city principles different peri-urban areas.

Ensuring equitable access to daily services within a 15-minute active travel window is a fundamental ambition of the “15-minute city” concept, which aims to contribute to the quality of life of all residents regardless of their ability and residential location. Although the concept is often linked to large urban areas, a growing number of practices by regional and provincial authorities indicate that the idea of 15-minute accessibility is becoming relevant in suburban and rural contexts despite the challenges involved. However, most research on disparities in 15-minute accessibility to essential services focuses on densely populated urban centers and accessibility by walking and biking, often neglecting areas with a mix of rural and urban characteristics and the importance of public transport in such settings. This paper investigates and compares disparities in 15-minute accessibility by walking, biking, and public transport within the Dutch province of Groningen, which encompasses a range of urban, suburban, and rural environments. Utilizing geospatial datasets, we compute accessibility scores based on access to 15 types of services. For the public transport accessibility score, we consider variations during rush hours, off-peak hours, and weekends. Furthermore, we measure accessibility for both standard and slower walking speeds to be sensitive to individuals with different abilities (i.e., the elderly). We then apply Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression (MGWR) to quantify and uncover spatial variations in the relationships between accessibility scores and socio-demographic/built-environment variables.

Research findings indicate that greater urbanization and population densities are strongly associated with higher accessibility, particularly regarding public transportation. While families with school-going children live in areas with less accessibility by walking and public transport and slightly higher accessibility by biking, young families tend to live in areas with higher accessibility, especially by public transportation. People with mobility disability, visual impairments, and older adults with fragile health tend to live in areas with better accessibility, especially when considering slower walking speeds. While very low-income households tend to live in areas with less accessibility, especially by biking, very high-income households live in areas with higher accessibility. Immigrants, who generally tend to cycle less than Dutch people, live in areas with higher accessibility, which is most pronounced by biking and public transport. While accessibility is higher in areas where more households without cars live, particularly for biking, households that own multiple vehicles are often situated in areas with lower accessibility by biking and other modes. The findings also highlight local differences in these relationships. These findings help policymakers target different interventions in areas where accessibility disparities are dominant if the goal is to improve accessibility equity.

Urban and suburban forests are essential for enhancing quality of life, offering opportunities for recreation, relaxation, and connection to nature. However, ensuring equitable accessibility to these spaces has become increasingly challenging due to urbanization, rising recreational demand, and the diverse needs of user groups. Addressing these challenges requires innovative approaches to green space management that prioritize sustainability and equitable access. The integration of big data and datafication offers significant opportunities in this context, providing insights for data-driven strategic decisions in recreation planning and natural resource management.

While extensive research exists on forest recreation, less attention has been given to accessibility dynamics of the "in-between" spaces connecting residential areas to forest destinations. This study provides a conceptual contribution by analyzing how recreational demand aligns with forest supply in the Vienna metropolitan area. Using mixed methods, including participatory GIS (PPGIS) data (n=3099) and spatial clustering techniques, it examines forest destination attractiveness, origin-destination flows, and accessibility patterns, focusing on factors such as network distance, transport modes, and proximity to residences. The analysis explores visitor transport modes, including walking, cycling, and car travel, and analyzed for their impact on spatial visitation trends.

Key findings highlight high-demand recreational zones and underutilized forests in suburban and peri-urban areas, where connectivity gaps and transport limitations hinder equitable access. Spatial clustering techniques reveal recreational flow patterns and opportunities for targeted infrastructure improvements. Generational differences in digital proficiency and recreational behavior emerge as important factors shaping access and engagement. These disparities underscore the importance of addressing individual and group-specific barriers to ensure equitable access. The findings emphasize the complementary role of digital and traditional tools and addressing individual and group-specific barriers in bridging accessibility gaps.

By examining the lived experiences of diverse of user groups, this research contributes to the discourse on the 15-minute city by expanding its principles to suburban and peri-urban contexts. It underscores the potential of participatory digital tools, spatial analytics, and data-driven strategies in addressing urbanization challenges. By tailoring urban planning to promote equity and sustainability, cities can enhance recreational access, support green infrastructure, and address dynamic urban needs.

The 15-minute-city concept aims to support a sustainable urban transition in European cities and active mobility, especially walking. In order to do so, urban neighbourhoods should provide good pedestrian infrastructures and access to relevant services and places.

While the concept is most promising for promoting the quality of life of citizens, the land use pattern and transport infrastructure, and thus accessibility, vary within the city and between neighbourhoods. There is also an individual dimension of accessibility, as the level of perceived accessibility is moderated by peoples’ needs and abilities and their personal circumstances. Lack of (walking) accessibility can lead to social exclusion, or poor health and wellbeing outcomes. Therefore, it is important to recognize the vital role of the neighbourhood level as well as to consider special needs to further develop the 15mC concept.

As part of the AccessCity4All project, we conducted qualitative Walk-Along-Interviews (WAI) with senior citizens and families with smaller children which are considered more vulnerable in terms of their mobility. We aim to better understand their mobility and accessibility needs and the perceptions at the street-level as well as their links to key components of the 15-minute-city concept. The interviews were conducted in autumn 2024 in five cities/regions: Vienna (Austria), Münster (Germany), Groningen (Netherlands), Lisbon (Portugal) and Ankara (Turkey). While walking together in the neighbourhood and directly experiencing the urban environment, the interviews centred around walking experiences and perceived accessibility.

In our presentation we will present first results from these interviews. We will look into similarities and differences from a cross-country comparison. This presentation will provide examples of perceived accessibility and about relevance of services for people’s everyday lives. We will also provide a deeper understanding of supporting and hindering factors for walking and discuss the special needs and perceptions of the vulnerable groups studied. In our conclusions, we will emphasize possibilities on the integration of our findings into future research and planning practices.

In the context of Bulgaria's imposed transformation from a transit to a destination country for migrants, this study explores the patterns and implications of circular student migration between Central Asia and Southeast Europe (SEE). The research addresses the socio-economic consequences of integrating third-country nationals (TCNs) into the Bulgarian labor market and society, particularly against the backdrop of significant demographic shifts and labor force challenges. Circular student migration, characterized by the repetitive and temporary relocation of individuals for educational purposes, provides a unique lens to examine the micro, meso, and macro-level impacts of migration (de Haas 2014, 2010; King 2012; Vertovec 2011; Cassarino 2004; Massey et al. 1993; Castles & Ozkul 2014). The main research question this paper seeks to answer is: Which specific aspects of circular mobility can be identified and operationalized through the case of student migration between Central Asia and Southeast European countries, contributing to the conceptualization of the legal status of 'circulator'?

Drawing on the theoretical insights of transnationalism (Gońda et al. 2021; Kaiser 2004; Pries 2003) and global social spaces (Noller 2000; Giddens 1990, 1996), the study evaluates how these students navigate the dual contexts of their home and host countries. The research explores their contributions to economic landscapes and cultural exchanges and extends the analysis to the influence of such migrations on social cohesion. This includes examining how these movements may mitigate xenophobia and discrimination through enriched bi-cultural exchanges. Previous studies (IOM 2019) identify the primary destinations for educational migration from Central Asia as including the Russian Federation, China, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom, and other countries such as Malaysia, the USA, Turkey, Germany, etc. According to these studies, SEE countries were not of significant interest for educational and student mobility at least until before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in the context of Russia's war in Ukraine, new questions arise about potential shifts in these trends: Is there an additional flow of students from Central Asia to Southeast Europe after 2022, and to what extent does this flow occur at the expense of reduced interest in studying in the Russian Federation? Additionally, what motivates students from Central Asia to choose Southeast Europe as a destination, and are these motivations linked to intentions for subsequent permanent emigration or long-term integration?

The analysis is based on the preliminary results of the first phase of the interdisciplinary research project "Topical Aspects of the Integration of Non-EU Workers in Bulgaria", funded by the Bulgarian Fund for Scientific Research (Contract KP-06-PN85/39_BG-175467353-2024-11-0262) (2024-2027). The data and empirical information presented were collected during the fieldwork using sociological research techniques: narrative interviews and expert interviews, providing qualitative insights into individual and institutional perspectives; network analysis (examining the role of social and institutional networks in facilitating circular migration) and policy analysis (Investigating existing legal and institutional frameworks in both regions and their impact on student mobility). This comprehensive methodological approach allows the study to critically engage with the socio-economic, legal, and institutional dimensions of circular student migration. By answering these questions, the study aims at contributing to the development of a coherent framework for the legal status of "circulator" and provide insights into optimizing the socio-economic benefits of circular student migration between Central Asia and Southeast Europe (e.g. Bulgaria).

The international student migration has been an emerging part of spatial mobility studies since the beginning of 21st century. This relatively new topic could be conceptualised as a logical antecedent of individual labour and retirement movements from life course perspective disregarding children’s moves. According to literature, the longitudinal methodological perspective seems fit for gathering data on circular migration and circular migrants.

The hypothesis of the research is that the concept of circular migration is composed of at least ten elements, which should be tested and refined on a real phenomenon. The starting point is to list the specificities of migration patterns identified in various international documents and literature, going slightly beyond the traditional or narrow theory. Namely, circular migration is a lawful, temporary migration that a person undertakes repeatedly, following a defined pattern of movement, based on a stated motivation, usually within a continent/region and with more advantages than disadvantages. These specificities can generate different variations of each other. The test is the migration of undergraduate and postgraduate students from developing countries coming to Hungary to study under the Stipendium Hungaricum scheme (BA, MA, PhD) since 2013. These young people perform a circular migration during their studies and throughout their learning process, as they repeatedly travel back home, but do not necessarily return home directly after graduation, but continue their formal and informal learning in other countries. The programme, founded by the Hungarian Government is managed by the Tempus Public Foundation. It is available on five continents in over 90 countries, attracting tens of thousands of third country-national students each year. 12 years of migration data may help to establish a portrait of the circular migrant in the gallery of migrants’ statuses.

The European Court of Justice has now developed solid case law that not only makes EU citizens feel equal in their host country but also explicitly encourages mobility. Citizens returning to their home state after exercising rights abroad are rewarded with special rights ( e.g., the right to bring back family members from outside the EU), suggesting that the citizens' movement deserves all the means to facilitate it.

This is well illustrated by the growing case law on mutual recognition of professional qualifications, marriage, birth certificates, gender identity, and the naming law.

In contrast, the intra-EU mobility rights of third-country nationals who do not have the right to free movement are much more limited. EU immigration law allows mobility between Member States only for specific categories of immigrants and with strict restrictions.

However, there is still a vast gap between the mobility rights of EU citizens and those TCNs. In this light, it is worth examining the situation of British citizens. As a result of Brexit, British citizens resident in the EU have become third country nationals. The stated aim of the EU was that those UK citizens who had exercised their Treaty rights before the end of the transition period would not be adversely affected by Brexit. However, the Withdrawal Agreement essentially replicates the regime provided for in Directive 2004/38/EC, which means that it does not apply to citizens who return to their home state after exercising their right to move (so-called circular situations). Moreover, the Withdrawal Agreement's protection is limited to ensuring that British citizens have rights in the Member State where they reside at the end of the transitional period. However, when British citizens triggered their Treaty rights, they did so with the expectation (accrued rights) that they would be able to move freely within the internal market. This may have more profound implications for the meaning of EU citizenship and its possible approach to circular migration, which will be the subject of the research.

The session proposal deals with the international circular migration which has globally become a buzzword in scientific, political, and administrative circles since the new century. We concentrate on a general inner feature of the phenomenon which is the common root of false ideas and measures surrounding human circulation, namely their dual nature. The literature echoes wide variety of conceptualisations of international circular migration. However, the investigation and application of its dialectical characteristic is absent. On one hand, circular migration is a type of migration as a simple event, on the other hand that is a repeat process or a complete system. First aim of the session is to discuss the event-system dilemma in general and to provide an illustration with empirical evidence come from European countries in particular. Moreover, the potential authors try to contribute to the clarification of the general concept of human circular mobilities to foster scholars for sophisticated thinking and stakeholders for adequate policy making in global, regional, national, and local levels. As second aim, we propose the core elements of a new legal status by national scale, namely circulator, which is a common challenge for scientists and practitioners dealing with the arena of circular mobilities.

We start with the negative assumptions. What is not the circular migration both the event and the system? First, it is not a labour rotation system. Second, it is not a guest worker (temporary labour migration) scheme. What is the circular migration? It would at least be a third migratory step between two countries as an event.

Large scale consensus has been existing for more data production on the circulatory movements in the literature. There is no preference for information sources. We can state that the three possible perspectives (inward, outward, hybrid) of the exploration of international circular migration are equivalent each other from general methodological point of views. Two sorts of human circulation systems exist: homogenous and heterogenous. The periodicity of individual’s moves differs from each other in the heterogenous system. This leads us to the complex systems of mobilities where from tourism via commuting to migration a lot of kinds of human spatial mobilities connect one another within an individual’ s mobility history. In general the creation of new personal categories of spatial mobilities lag behind the highly changing socio-spatial reality This is, why, we propose a new (legal) status of mobile people, circulator. We hope that the new status imagined will be not a simple extension of the lexicon of circular migration in the context of growing xenofobic attitude and rhetoric in receiving countries if we utilize inward perspective on the homogenous quantitative data from administrative sources.

It seems to me that the creation of general and particular circulator statuses is a classical multidisciplinary and multisectoral challenge (see the row for instance: first time immigrant, first time emigrant, return immigrant /circulator/ from inward perspective). However, the potential legal status of international circulator could be situated somewhere between temporary immigrants and quasi-citizens from the angle of nations and/or integrations.

This study examines the role of multi-level governance in the context of immigration and integration policies. It explores the functions of national and sub-national governments (provinces) in managing migration and integration of immigrants, with a focus on Austria as one of the European host countries. Austria has been involved in international migration in many ways for over a century. Today 12.5% of the population have foreign nationality and almost 20% have a migration background.

The countries of Europe face different migratory challenges. Previous research has shown that migration is one of the main factors that shape and accelerate the development of urban areas. On the other hand, increased mobility has negative effects as well. Some countries pursue restrictive strategies while others allow easier access to labour markets and social systems. In general, the effective integration of immigrants is one of the key factors for progress in European convergence. The elements of the European migration policy aim to harmonise legislation and management tools and maximise the positive impact of migration flows while at the same time finding solutions to the related problems. A cross-country comparison demonstrates that these instruments and solutions still differ: There are European countries that have restrictive policies, while others are open to multiculturalism and facilitate access to equal rights, including political and social entitlements. An analysis of the strategies of the traditional host countries reveals a number of factors underlying the differences in the immigrant integration and labour market performance in these countries. Although regional differences and local responsibilities have become particularly important in recent decades, the literature focuses primarily on the national level or on capitals. It is also about the inclusion of immigrants from different perspectives. This may be because naturalisation and immigration policies are always decided at the national level. However, policies at the local level have a more direct impact.

Discussions point out, that Austrian policy on settlement and naturalisation is one of the most restrictive in Europe and take only partly into account the integration performance of immigrants, their individual abilities and life circumstances. The sub-national authorities of Austria have, however, recognised the importance of the integration of immigrants. Various integration instruments have been developed – in Graz already from the appearance of the first guest workers. Only from the year 2000 can we speak of nationwide intensive integration efforts. The cooperative attitude of the provincial governments and the priority of information transfer among the actors has positive effects on the labour market and, as a consequence, on the social as well as the economic development of a region.

Based on secondary data research and analysis of concepts and other government documents, the first part of the study summarises the structure of modern migration movements into Austria with special reference to the provinces. The second part explains how the federal government and the provinces perceive and control immigration and shows interesting similarities and differences between and within the levels.

The human mobilities have a new dimension since Second World War. The new global economy, transnational companies exponentially growing the volume of transport, tourism and migration. These processes have a serious side effect on environment, natural resources. Economic crises, wars, climate change, depletion of resources and unlooked-for diseases for instance COVID-19 give some new challenges for Mankind.

First aim of this presentation is to provide a short general introduction into some consequences of increasing level of mobilities from sustainability point of. The natural and built environments have changed dramatically in the last 60-70 years. How can we tackle that in context global environmental problems? Which expectation has changed after latest world economic crisis, COVID-19 pandemic, and war conflicts in the context of repeat human mobilities? The role of mobilities is examined not only as the environmental questions but also economic, social, and political challenges. Although it is well known that if one of macro force changes it can modify other force. However, the complex outcome of changes is intrinsically unknown. Even though predictable future has more and more extremely importance from the global to the local levels. Outline of some scenarios for the next years are involved.

Second aim of this contribution is to discuss ‘the sustainable circular mobilities paradox’ in the context of mobility-stasis axes. This is a new idea. We are aware of its relatively harsh character. So we create an abstract proto-model for spatially visualisation. The deep disputes (dialogues) are needed in order to develop some sophisticated assumptions and answers. We hope the audience will form some reflections and critics about this potential paradox.

Following years of economic upheavals started in 2008 (great economic crisis) and 2020 (COVID-19 pandemic) plus 2022 (war in Ukraine) the European Union and its member states did not find reliable answers to some negative effects of downturns at different spatial levels. This was highly true in East part of Europe, in the ex-socialist countries. Regional differences increased at the expanse of rural areas all crisis times. The inefficient efforts to revitalize rural countryside echoes new solutions to be empirical and theoretical bases in the past and present days. The main aim of the presentation is to investigate on the necessary elements of employment sustainability for circular people in the light of three different sorts of crises. Based on an applied research series conducted 2012-2022, the previous publication of the research results and the relevant literature the authors synthetized a general model inspired by geographical spheres for practical use of stakeholders and policymakers at regional level. The parts of the model, the interrelations, the mechanisms, and the functions between the elements will be refined under the umbrella of potential economic downturn, nowadays. Our hypothesises and guesses erected mainly from Hungarian case studies articulated in the conference are highly disputable, and we would like to discuss them with the audience.

EXTENDED ABSTRACT

The circularity is a recurring pattern of spatial mobilities in consecutive time periods of human history starting repeat moves in ancient times through nomadism till present days (Petersen 1975; Manning, 2013). However, multiple residential movements from one home to another have become increasingly frequent during the epoch of globalisation. We launched into a fierce polemic against the narrow European conceptualisation on circular migration ahead. In this presentation we try to synthetize the characteristic differences between the recognition of circular migration as a system compared to an event (a type) in the most recent literature. From analytical and practical reasons, firstly, we argue for the conceptualization of system nature of multiple return migration, namely circular migration as a whole entity. Secondly, the last phase of any circular migration system can be recognised as a simple event of migratory process which could be typified as a part of the system. In other words, the individualised migrations by serial numbers could be classified by usual migration types. The last individual migration with serial number could be classified any migration types. But this is not valid for a whole circular migration system due to their potentially mixed motivational elements. Only the classification of last sequence of system has recent importance from practical purposes. For instance, the migrants’ actual legal status would be an example in the receiving country.

In general, two sorts of human circulation systems exist: homogenous and heterogenous. The periodicity of individuals’ moves differs from each other in the heterogenous system. This leads us to the complex systems of mobilities where from tourism via commuting to migration a lot of kinds of human spatial mobilities connect one another or happen/ work in parallel within an individual’ s mobility history during his/her lifetime. The homogenous human circulation system consists of the one kind of moves made by the same persons with similar time rhythm from statistical angles within stages of individuals’ life course. Based on the Hungarian and other research on homogenous system (Illés, Kincses 2012 2018; Illés 2015 2021; White 2013 2014; Weber, Saarela 2017 2019; Monti 2020), it seems to us that the practice of life-long international circular migration characterises few circulators. The emergence of circular migration is more frequent some life stages differentiated by age, previous migratory experience and next aspiration. We may hypothesise with high probability, that the same conclusion could be valid in homogenous circular system of tourists, commuters and temporary migrants. However, the heterogenous circular mobility system may function during whole individual life cycle due to one of the symptoms of human beings on move.

Migratory movements have become more fluid and dispersed nowadays with the increase of intensity rates in different societal strata (Górny 2017; Cohen 2018). Circular migration is only a fraction of territorial mobility systems. The closure of circular migration in temporary migration arena was a conceptual fault because its proponents overlooked permanent circular migration. The permanent migration had longer tempo than temporary one from the point of view of time order. The terms temporary and temporariness were blurred. (Skeldoon 2012). Moreover, practical disadvantages have developed from the simplified concept of circular migration. The rigid temporary frame of circulation attracted the shortcomings of guest worker schemes as the representation of international temporary migration (Doomernik 2013). So, the proponents were caught in one’s own trap. Scholars argued the antihumanitarian rotation system of labour based on temporary migration scheme (Standing 1984; Deshingkar 2008). In fact, circular and rotational systems are completely different from each other. The final unit of these two systems were the same: individual. However, the individuals are changed in the rotation cycle/system, but the same individual moves within circular cycle/system. In long-term, it is possible that a rotated individual may return to the receiving country, but she/he is treated as new immigrants before substitution with someone else, a human being, who must be exploited from the economic aim of productivity/efficiency. With the utilisation of rotation scheme new and newer workers could be employed and could be exploited without considering the interest of workers in order to maximize the employer’s financial profit (Standing 2014).

In order to avoid the shortcomings of guest worker and rotation systems a new legal status must be created and implemented at global, regional, national and local levels, namely circulator.

It is worth noting that the creation of new personal categories is lagging behind the present of highly changing socio-spatial reality This is, why, we propose a new legal status of mobile people, circulator. What is interesting here as a wide spectrum of challenges may be foreseen. Circulator as a natural person and circulation as an event-system like process could be recognized within lots of spatial mobility forms and large variety of defining areas, as well. The legal formalisation is the task of representants of law, undoubtfully. However, it would be useful to cooperate with other social sciences far from mentioning in this article. It engages with the issue of multilevel governance of migration, one of the global migration research agendas underlined by Anna Triandafyllidou and Alexandra Richard-Guay (2019).

Besides language, religion is a major marker of national identity and consciousness as they emerged through Enlightenment and became politically relevant and powerful in the course of the 19th century resulting in the formation of nation states. Confessions, however, practice very different relations to nations. While the Roman-Catholic Church conceives itself as universal and supranational today avoiding association with individual nations and emphasizing relations with ethnic and national minorities, in the Orthodox sphere the association of the Church with nation and nation state is very close: every nation “in the full sense” has its own Orthodox Church and this Church accompanies the nation and its leaders almost unconditionally through all political circumstances. Also Protestant Churches cultivate a close relationship to nations and nation states by their country-wise organization. Despite of its supra-national character, however, also the Roman-Catholic Church used to be a significant identity marker of many European nations in the 19th century and up to the dawn of secularization starting in the European West. It was even the driving force of some national movements.
Secularization in the sphere of Western Christianity (Catholicism, Protestantism), in the European West mainly driven by commercialization and hedonism, in former Communist Central Europe mainly by a-clerical Communism, however, changed the pattern of religion as markers of national identity essentially. For ‘classical’ Catholic nations like Italians, Spaniards, Portuguese or also Austrians religion has ceased ranking among markers of national identity, while others like Poles, Slovaks, Croats or Maltese style Catholicism still one of its major ingredients. In the (former) Protestant sphere religion is anyway not much more than a historical reminiscence. Much in contrast, the Orthodox sphere continues practicing the close relation between (national) Church and nation and religion has maintained its function as a prominent marker of national identity. An interesting opposite pair are in this context Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina: while both of them are characterized by being composed of Muslims, Orthodox and Catholics, Albanians have arrived at a common national identity mainly based on language, while Bosnia-Herzegovina is still lacking such an identity and the three religious components coincide with national identities.
The paper will not only try portraying this pattern, but also explaining its reasons.

Hungary, a traditionally Christian country, is experiencing a decline in institutional religious practices, placing it among Europe’s moderately religious nations. While most Hungarians believe in God, active church participation has decreased significantly. This trend contrasts with the growing public role of traditional churches and the rise of political Christianity since 2010.

In the second half of the 20th century, political factors led to the omission of religious affiliation questions in censuses. These questions returned in 2001, 2011, and 2022, but responses became voluntary to respect the sensitive nature of religious information.

Census data reveals minimal shifts within religious communities between 2001 and 2022. The historical Christian churches remain dominant: Catholics (73.0%-68.7%), Reformed (21.3%-22.5%), and Evangelicals (4.0%-4.2%). However, the non-affiliated population has grown (14.5%-16.1%), and non-responses have surged to 40.1%, with over 3.9 million individuals opting not to answer. The Catholic Church has suffered the largest decline, losing 2.6 million members.

Our study investigates the regional aspects of this decline, often referred to as secularization, focusing on peripheral areas emphasized by Pope Francis. Using census data, thematic maps, and methods like religious diversity indices, we analyze the territorial patterns of religiosity.

Additionally, we explore the role of institutions operated by the Archdiocese of Eger, such as schools, healthcare, and social services, in influencing religiosity. Do settlements hosting these institutions experience slower rates of secularization?

To understand the causes of declining ecclesiastical religiosity, we conduct interviews with church and secular leaders in the most affected settlements. We examine trends in religious activity over several years, including participation in ceremonies (e.g., baptisms, confirmations, marriages), statistical data on church membership, and engagement in religious education.

This study aims to provide a nuanced understanding of Hungary’s religious landscape and the spatial dynamics of ecclesiastical decline.

In the years around the famous law on the separation of Church and State passed in France in 1905, numerous religious orders left the territory of the République and settled abroad, usually in border dioceses. For this reason, in the small border Italian diocese of Ventimiglia, an extraordinary presence of priests, friars and nuns from French institutes emerged at the beginning of the 20th century. In some cases, their presence lasted only a few years, while in others they remained until very recently. Usually, these religious communities were used continuing to speak their language of origin, gave an active and collaborative contribution to ecclesiastical action, and characterised the territory with a cultural, linguistic, cultic presence that, often still tangible so many years later, constitutes a peculiar element of the local “religious landscape”. The recent crisis in religious vocations caused the closure of numerous convents and monasteries formerly inhabited by French orders, but their structures have been often re-employed for other pastoral or charitable needs that were more urgent or necessary for today’s society (schools, reception of immigrants, assistance to the elderly and disabled, etc.). The first part of the study consists of a census, carried out in local archives and on the territory, of the former convents and monasteries of French religious orders that moved to the diocese of Ventimiglia during that period; then, their subsequent events and their different roles within the diocese are studied; finally, their impact on the territory in contemporary reality is explored.

Muslim places of worship have been increasing in European public spaces for decades. This phenomenon is linked to migration flows from Islamic cultural countries to Europe and the preservation of faith through intergenerational transmission. Mosques and prayer spaces are among the most visible signs of the pluralization of cultural and religious identities emerging in contemporary European societies (Giorda, 2019). Cities, in particular, are the settings where the interplay of human mobility is most evident. Religions have regained prominence in the public sphere of European societies (Habermas, 2008; Casanova, 2000), partly but not exclusively due to the presence of migrants (Peach and Gale, 2003).

The city becomes the stage for these transformations, embodying the coexistence and overlap of spatial practices and uses (Cattedra, 2003). The territory is not merely a container for society but the product of an ongoing relationship between space and society, which evolves daily. It thus serves as a kaleidoscope for understanding these changes (Dematteis, 1985; Turco, 1988; Massey, 1999).

Similarly, lived religion (Orsi, 1999) within the urban context is influenced by specific challenges of urban life (Beaman, 2017). In cities, religion more clearly demonstrates its tendency toward isomorphism (Yang and Ebaugh, 2001). The way it is practiced and perceived interacts with social, political, and economic dynamics characteristic of urbanity, being questioned and shaped by them in a co-evolutionary process (Rüpke, 2021). Some sociological studies on Islam have also adopted this theoretical perspective (Fernando and Fadil, 2015; Jeldtoft, 2011).

This research aims to focus on the spatial dimensions of Islam in Florence. Tuscany is home to approximately 180,000 Muslims (Ciocca, 2019), with a presence in Florence that began to take organized form through associations in the 1990s (Elzir, 2011).

The rural landscape, as a complex ecological and cultural system, represents a crucial paradigm for interpreting and promoting sustainable agriculture. This study investigates how land concentration, monoculture expansion, and biodiversity loss threaten the balance of agri-food ecosystems. Using a proven research methodology from the Interuniversity Research Group GECOAGRI-LANDITALY, the authors analyze some case studies through which they assess the process of land concentration in the European countryside, starting from the 90s of the last century - also favored by certain CAP Directives - and interpret the transformations induced on the historical rural landscapes that become fundamental geographical paradigms to explain the unsustainability of the concentration processes underway in the countryside. The analysis of the complex landscape elements and agricultural structures reveals the loss of traditional cultivation practices, already inherited from family farming and agro-food biodiversity.

Hungarian agricultural land use is one of the most concentrated in Europe. Over the past decade and a half, the ownership, farm structure and land use of agriculture have undergone profound changes. Nearly seven to eight hundred thousand small producers have given up farming and withdrawn from agriculture. By the time of EU accession, a significant concentration of land use and production had developed, which has not changed significantly since then. The proportion of land over 500 hectares reaches and, in some of its components, exceeds the share of large estates in the productive area before the Second World War. Land use concentration has a dual structure. Economic organizations cultivate the largest areas of land, but after the turn of the millennium, medium and larger individual farms also sought to purchase land and expand leases. In the first half of the 20th century, medium and small peasant farms provided a livelihood for more than a million peasant families. After the mid-1990s, the number of small farms began to decline rapidly. The sustaining capacity of agriculture declined significantly as a result of the concentration of land use and technological modernization. The restructuring of agriculture and the concentration of land use were linked to social, power and economic changes, the combined effect of which was to completely transform rural society and economy, The link between high-level rural poverty and land use structure can be traced back to the first half of the 1990s. Due to land compensation, land privatization, the way cooperatives were transformed, and the abolition of cooperatives' employment obligations, three hundred thousand people became unemployed in 1993 alone.

The paper presents the consequences of land concentration based on SAPS data and a survey of 5,000 people (2021): the change in the dominance of the monoculture of grain production, the decline of animal husbandry and horticulture, the transformation in the identity-forming role of the rural landscape, the displacement of locals from agriculture.

Monoculture production and large-scale land concentration have destroyed the direct connection of the rural population to the farmland, thereby greatly weakening the social foundations of sustainable agriculture and landscape management. The study, based on qualitative research, also presents those movements and individual forms of activity that consciously aimed to promote sustainable agricultural activities.

The evolving European rural landscape faces ascending pressures from urbanization, land concentration, and intensive agricultural practices. These dynamics have significant implications for ecosystem services (ES), particularly soil health and biodiversity, which are vital to environmental sustainability and human well-being. Portugal’s diverse ecosystems and legislative advancements provide a unique vision to explore these challenges and opportunities for sustainable land management. This study investigates the relationship between land-use strategies, soil health, and biodiversity conservation through an integrated approach that combines geospatial analysis, stakeholder participation, and quantitative assessment. It seeks to address two key questions: (i) How do different land management practices impact soil health? and (ii) What role does biodiversity play in enhancing ecosystem resilience under different land use practices?

Portugal’s environmental policies, such as alignment with the European Union’s Soil Monitoring Directive and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), underscore the urgency of sustainable practices. However, gaps in soil monitoring and biodiversity metrics hinder the development of effective strategies. This research bridges these gaps by employing advanced geospatial tools to map soil degradation risks, assess biodiversity trends, and evaluate the long-term sustainability of land-use changes.

Stakeholder engagement further enriches the analysis by incorporating local perspectives, ensuring that policy recommendations are grounded in practical realities. The findings reveal that sustainable land management practices can mitigate soil degradation and support biodiversity, offering a pathway to more resilient ecosystems.

The study’s outcomes align with the European Green Deal and the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, providing actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners. By addressing trade-offs and synergies between ecological and socio-economic objectives, the research highlights the importance of integrated approaches to land management. Finally, this study contributes to the broader understanding of rural transformations in Europe, emphasizing the need for evidence-based policies that prioritize soil restoration, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development.

Acknowledgments

This work has been developed under the Science4Policy 2024 (S4P-24), an annual Science for Policy Project call, an initiative promoted by Centre for Planning and Evaluation of Public Policies in partnership with the Foundation for Science and Technology, financed by Portugal´s Recovery and Resilience Plan. Project number 2024.00129.S4P24.

Agriculture in the Alps has long been considered a marginal activity afflicted by an irreversible decline, measured in terms of a decrease in the number of agricultural holdings and a reduction in agricultural surface area (Tasser et al., 2009; Ruffini, 2011).

More recently, some opposite trends are observed. New investments are exploiting marginal areas and new rentable crops are replacing less profitable productions, while global climate change pushes lowland species to move uphill and occupy mountain agricultural land. Vineyards are rapidly spreading in areas where a new climate, the market and rewarding policies allow it, as it is happening in the slopes of North-Eastern Italy for the Prosecco (Ferrario, D’Angelo, 2020). Similar phenomena of land concentration affect other sectors like fruit growing or grazing land.

At the same time, new signs of interest in agricultural activity have been recorded among old and new inhabitants of the Alps (Dematteis, 2012; Corrado et al., 2014), also as a response to the current socio-environmental crisis. In the context of the so-called «new farming», agriculture is considered an important factor of social innovation (Niedermayr et al., 2014; Maino et al., 2016; Gretter et al., 2019; Zollet and Majarjan, 2021) and an opportunity for environmental recovery, especially when inspired to the agroecology global movement (Wezel et al., 2009). New Alpine farmers introduce non-traditional, innovative or retro-innovative productions that can rejuvenate Alpine agriculture, preferably in a more sustainable direction.

Therefore in the Alpine landscape a new conflict has begun between a small, innovative and agroecological farming and intensive agriculture that more and more exploits mountains as a frontier to conquer. Starting from the results of a research on the new attractiveness of Alpine agriculture, this contribution works on this hypothesis through a mixed-methods approach capable of cross-referencing qualitative and quantitative data and bringing desk analysis and field investigations into dialogue. It deals both with case studies and general data analysis in the Italian Eastern Alps, as well as with rural policies that favour or impede the aforementioned trends.

During the last intercensal period, Croatia's total population declined by over 400,000, significantly impacting the country's age and family structures. The intensive emigration of young adults and entire families following Croatia's accession to the EU led not only to a substantial decrease in the total population but also to a notable reduction in the number of individuals of reproductive age, which ultimately influenced birth rates in subsequent years. Between 2011 and 2021, Croatia's population decreased by 9.6%. The number of people under the age of 15 fell by 15.3%, while those aged 15–64 declined by 14.7%. In contrast, the population aged 65 and older increased by 14.6%. As a result, Croatia recorded an unprecedentedly low number of live births in 2023.

Additionally, the number of families with children in Croatia decreased by approximately 100,000 during this period. The emigration of the working-age population created a labor shortage, forcing Croatia to rely heavily on immigrant labor force. Consequently, after years of being an emigrant country, Croatia transitioned into an immigrant destination, primarily due to the influx of workers from non-EU and Asian countries. However, most of the immigrants are male, who find employment in sectors such as construction, transportation, tourism and hospitality, etc. The substantial influx of foreign workers in the last few years prompts for the development of a robust immigration policy focused on ensuring effective and high-quality integration of foreign workers, among other things.

The main objective of this research is to analyze the impact of migration patterns in Croatia after 2011 on the country's age and family structures. Furthermore, the study will compare Croatia with other former socialist EU member states to better understand migration trends and their influence on population dynamics following these countries' accession to the EU.

The notion of 'left-behind places' has emerged as a prominent theme in discussions of geographical inequalities and has gained widespread usage in urban and regional studies. This term is employed to denote the particularly salient challenges faced by former industrial and rural regions that have been adversely impacted by population decline, globalization, economic shifts, and technological advancements. This research examines demographic dynamics in Latvia's peripheral and rural regions of Latvia through the population change, building on Billari's (2022) framework of the “fast and slow” demography perspective. While traditional demographic research has emphasized gradual, long-term population transitions, this study argues that Latvia's left-behind places experience demographic shifts driven by the interplay of structural population decline, out-migration, and uneven development patterns. The research investigates how these areas navigate between slow structural changes (aging, low fertility) and sudden demographic disruptions caused by economic and social factors. The study employs a set of variables derived from the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia, analyzing quantitative data of population turnover and migration share and age structures in rural areas and former industrial monotowns to understand patterns of demographic change. The study's initial findings suggest that Latvia's peripheral regions exhibit characteristics of both slow and fast demographic change, with some areas experiencing sudden population losses while maintaining underlying patterns of gradual decline. This research advances theoretical discussions about demographic temporalities in post-socialist context of urban change. The findings provides important insights for regional development policies by highlighting how different dimensions and temporalities of demographic change require varied policy responses.

The socio-cultural and economic conditions of older adults in Croatia, as well as the organization, accessibility, and quality of formal care services, both institutional and non-institutional, vary significantly depending on their geographical location. Key factors influencing these disparities include whether individuals reside in urban or rural areas, the size of their community, the region’s level of economic development, and the extent to which the area experiences immigration or outmigration. This paper aims to explore the role of the state in caring for the elderly and to examine the significance and impact of family ties and solidarity in old age. This analysis examines strategic documents that address the needs of older people in Croatia. It also presents findings from a qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews with 41 respondents aged 65 and older, all of whom are ageing in place. The research was carried out in two distinct locations: Zagreb, Croatia’s largest and most economically developed city, and Vinkovci, a medium-sized city in a less economically developed region that has experienced significant outmigration in recent years. However, regardless of geographical location and personal socioeconomic conditions, all older persons receive some type of assistance and care primarily within the family or household. Although family ties remain strong and the level of solidarity is high, especially in small communities, informal carers cannot compensate for the, often complete, absence of formal care for older people. Demographic changes, including the decline in household size, transformations in family structures, advancements in gender equality in employment, and the significant migration of younger populations (from rural to urban areas and, increasingly, abroad over the past decade) require new approaches in planning to meet the needs of older people. There is a need to develop various services that enable older individuals to continue living in their own homes and encourage their active participation in community life, which can greatly enhance their quality of life. At the same time, due to the growing number of individuals aged 80 and older and their increased need for all forms of care, it is necessary to continuously expand the network of nursing homes.

The expansion of International Student Mobility (ISM) reflects the increasing internationalization of higher education, with growing attention to non-traditional destinations. Emerging ISM hubs, such as Latvia, challenge the dominance of established education centers, signaling a shift toward a more multipolar ISM landscape. While traditional research often focuses on motivations, destinations, and mechanisms of educational migration, this paper investigates how ISM contributes to demographic resilience in Latvia, a nation grappling with ageing populations and high emigration since the 1990s.

In recent decades, Latvia has leveraged internationalization to attract diverse student groups, particularly from non-European countries. Between 2000 and 2021, Latvia experienced a significant diversification in its immigrant population. In Riga, while the European population increased modestly by 4%, the non-European population grew by 25%, with the most prominent groups being Indians and Uzbeks. These populations have concentrated in inner-city areas, as well as near higher education institutions, while largely avoiding Soviet-era housing estates and outer-city neighborhoods.

This study explores Latvia’s dual identity as an emerging ISM hub: attractive for its affordability, cultural openness, and strategic location, yet less desirable due to its small size, semi-peripheral European status, and historical-geopolitical context. By examining these dynamics, the paper highlights ISM’s role in shaping Latvia’s immigration landscape and its potential to address demographic challenges. The findings provide insights into how ISM can serve as a strategic resource for demographic resilience in other regions facing similar population shifts.

After the change of regime, the employment and housing structure went through radical changes in Budapest, just like in most cities of the post-socialist countries, due to deindustrialization and privatization (including mass housing privatization). In the 1990s, the housing constructions stopped and despite the privatization, the residential mobility remained low within the city. Those who had resources after purchased their flat moved to the suburbia. Those who had resources after purchased their flat moved to the suburbia. The situation changed at the end of the decade, the economic recovery and new financial instruments helped the housing market.

New housing constructions restarted together with the demolition of old tenement houses and working-class estates from the turn of the century. The newly built flats were very expensive and no new social housing was constructed, thus the lower social strata had less and less opportunity to find home. This situation was further aggravated by the 2008-2012 financial crisis. Masses of mortgage borrowers lost their home. As a result, homelessness increased, families moved to the countryside, and the outmigration strengthened.

The study focuses on the neighborhoods with a high concentration of lower strata inhabitants who were hit hardest by the crisis. The research questions are: Where had been the least affluent groups concentrated before the crisis and how it changed after? Which neighborhoods became poorer after the crisis period and which ones transformed into middle class areas?

The authors compare the subdistrict level 2001, 2011 and 2022 census data of Budapest in order to identify the old and new low status areas. An in-depth analysis of their location and residential environment may reveal how the socio-spatial cleavage has evolved during the last two decades.

Who are “the rich” and how should their residential patterns be studied? In society, the rich are defined not only by their high income but also —and perhaps more importantly— by their high wealth. However, while income is closely monitored and taxed, wealth often remains less scrutinized, particularly in the context of segregation research. This study explores how the spatial patterns of affluence and poverty differ when considering wealth versus income and discusses their implications. By analyzing geo-coded microdata from the Netherlands, we reveal that wealth segregation is much higher than income segregation, and that roughly the top tenth richest households in terms of wealth are far more isolated from the rest of the population than what the income-based literature would report. Our findings also demonstrate other three key insights: (1) Whereas financial wealth is more unequally distributed than real estate wealth across society, it is more equally distributed across space. (2) Wealth segregation is notably more sensitive to the spatial scale of measurement compared to income segregation. (3) The temporal trends of income and wealth segregation diverge: while the former is decreasing in most urban areas, wealth segregation is rising almost everywhere in the Netherlands. This stresses the necessity of incorporating wealth into studies of segregation not as an alternative operationalization, but as a different perspective on the concentration of affluence which captures the role of capital, social class and the residential dynamics of the well-off individuals in a way that income-based approaches cannot render.

Residential segregation is one of the most visible manifestations of social inequality in cities. However, segregation is not merely a reflection of these inequalities but also a mechanism that actively contributes to their maintenance and reproduction over time. Thus, analysing socioeconomic inequalities requires considering both inequalities between places (Milanović, 2016) and inequalities within places (Piketty, 2013, 2023).

In this context, the article examines the dynamics of residential segregation in the Barcelona Metropolitan Region, focusing on the evolution of socioeconomic disparities within its 164 municipalities and in relation to the metropolitan average. The research posits that segregation has reached a metropolitan scale, going beyond municipal boundaries, with vulnerable social groups increasingly concentrated in major cities, while wealthier groups tend to relocate to other areas.This dynamic generates a paradox in which the most disadvantaged populations tent to concentrated in municipalities with fewer local resources and greater difficulties in providing public services.

The study approaches residential segregation through two methodological perspectives. First, it proposes a taxonomy of metropolitan municipalities that combines the evolution of economic inequalities within each municipality with their relative position in terms of average net income per household within the Barcelona Metropolitan Region. This phase uses data from the Atlas de Distribución de Renta de los Hogares for the period 2015–2022 at the census tract, municipal, and metropolitan scales.

The second phase focuses on analyzing the evolution of residential segregation through the use of the multivariate residential segregation index previously used in the research Barris i Crisi (Blanco & Nel·lo, 2018), completing the temporal series for the years 2001, 2011, and 2021. This methodology examines the territorial distribution of four key variables, interrelated with the income: (a) the percentage of the unemployed population; (b) the percentage of the foreign population; (c) the cadastral value of housing; and (d) the average housing size. Data is collected at the census tract level using the 2021 Population Census.

This dual approach provides an in-depth understanding of segregation and inequality patterns in the Barcelona Metropolitan Region, contributing to debates on public policies and the territorial distribution of resources.

In 1997, Amin and Graham pointed to the media's prevalent focus on urban crises and 'regeneration', which oscillates between gloomy predictions of urban collapse and optimistic portrayals of renewal, often simplifying the actual complexities. These observations remain pertinent and reflect a persistent but simplistic dichotomy of urban decay and revitalisation driven by neoliberal agendas (Pinson, 2022). The concept of urban regeneration has been criticised for lacking a defined theoretical basis (Leary and McCarthy, 2013) and for using stigmatising metaphors that exacerbate socio-spatial inequalities (Marcuse, 2005). Such metaphors target areas labelled as 'abject' (Sibley, 1998), potentially exacerbating marginalisation (Porter, 2009). Urban problems are often framed in dystopian terms to justify interventions as necessary treatments for perceived urban ills (Furbey, 1999), perpetuating 'hypochondriac geographies' (Baeten, 2002). The schematic approaches of the current literature require a socio-theoretical extension of urban regeneration (Lovering, 2007). Feminist geographers argue that urban theory overlooks the transformative potential of care that is essential for a just city (Power and Hall, 2018). This requires a new ethical framework that places the transformative ethos of care at the centre (de la Bellacasa, 2011; Lawson, 2007).

This study utilises relational and new institutionalist perspectives (Healey, 1999; Rydin, 2021) to examine urban regeneration along three axes: metaphorical/symbolic, instrumental/discursive and procedural/socio-spatial. The focus is on the south-east coast of Palermo, which has evolved from a bustling industrial zone in the early 20th century to a place of urban sprawl and decay. 'Sacco di Palermo' in the 1970s triggered a profound urban transformation that led to the construction of massive social housing projects that further blanketed the coast with rubble, the so-called mammelloni. As part of the NRRP, the city has launched four “eco-sustainable” projects to address these environmental and social challenges. The study aims to introduce the ethics of care as a relational lens into urban research, to explore the discursive impact of NRRP initiatives on urban imaginaries that can move away from pathologising approaches, and to assess how urban regeneration in Palermo unfolds on the ground, enabling agency. Methodologically, it combines critical discourse analysis and ethnographic fieldwork.

Le territoire, lieu de diversités sociale, économique et morphologique, représente une opportunité pour la réflexion, l'action et même la capacité de faire évoluer ces derniers vers des pratiques dites inclusives. Cette constante nécessité de réinventer nos urbanismes vers des usages nouveaux est étroitement liée à la question de l’accessibilité territoriale, de la mobilité optimisée et des déplacements d’un point à un autre. Cette approche scientifique et cette posture philosophique humaniste nous incitent à élaborer une stratégie de connaissance indissociable de la volonté politique d’agir pour l’intérêt général des populations. La première pouvant fortement influencer la seconde.

La question centrale est donc celle de l'orientation à donner à cette stratégie de l’accessibilité, notamment en direction des populations fragilisées physiquement, psychologiquement, temporairement ou définitivement et dont la question de l’accès est conditionnée par les formes de l’urbanisme inclusives ou non. Doit-elle être tournée vers la mise en pratique d'un droit particulier, à savoir le droit aux espaces, aux lieux et aux pratiques spatiales ? Cette perspective devient alors une condition essentielle pour une prise en compte des droits humains et de la démocratie spatiale : le droit spatial à la citoyenneté ou encore le droit citoyen à la spatialité. Le territoire est complexe et souligne l'importance de la diversité spatiale et sociale dans sa construction, son évolution et la prise en compte de l’adéquation entre la demande des usagers et l’offre de la collectivité. Les paramètres variés du territoire, tels que la population, les infrastructures bâties et viaires, les modes de déplacement, ainsi que la gamme d'activités qu'il abrite, sont autant d'éléments qui contribuent à sa complexité tout autant que sa valeur culturelle et identitaire. Comment alors favoriser des politiques d’aménagement inclusives, et apporter aux collectivités, et à l'État les méthodes et les outils des principes de développement durable inclusif ?

Cette proposition d’intervention et d’article scientifique a pour objectif de présenter de nouveaux concepts et outils de diagnostics territoriaux expérimentés sur de multiples territoires français et étrangers (Ethiopie, Indonésie, Grande-Bretagne, Normandie/Hauts de France,…). Quelle méthode, quels résultats et quelles perspectives pour la mise en place progressive de politiques inclusives socialement et économiquement viables ?

This paper, Based on my PhD thesis findings, explores the complex nexus between physical and digital disablement and social research within the context of the majority world. As a visually disabled scholar and a screen reader user, I want to reflect on several methodological dilemmas faced during my experience in conducting qualitative empirical research with physically and visually disabled people living in the city of Marrakech. the focus is on the eventual impacts of these dilemmas on the credibility and reliability of the research findings as perceived by the academic community.

In the first part of the paper, I tackle institutional, physical and digital barriers that I have faced during data collection, transcription and processing. the second part of the paper shifts to a discussion of some methodological strategies that I have adopted during my fieldwork visits such as the personal assistant. These methodological readjustments raise serious challenges to the conventional views on the research reliability as seen by qualitative perspectives in medical sociology and anthropology.

In this paper, I will demonstrate that like other modes of production and consumption in the oppressive society, knowledge production seems to be largely disabling toward disabled researchers particularly those with visual impairment. Therefore, I call for the reappraisal of data collected and processed through non-visual sensory means. In so doing, I advocate for the development of more inclusive research methodologies that acknowledge diversity in the social-world views and interpretations of social processes and practices.

In preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, disability simulation experiences for children have become increasingly common, particularly in France and Switzerland. These initiatives aim to foster awareness by allowing children to temporarily experience various impairments. However, while widespread, these simulations have been criticized for failing to critically address the complexities of disability. Can one truly experience disability as one would experience drunkenness? Is it ethical for non-disabled children to engage in these simulations? Do they reinforce imposed identities on disabled individuals, or can they create a shared spatial regime that challenges ableism?

Research on disability simulation from an educational perspective has shown that such experiences often fail to be inclusively effective and can even produce negative outcomes, such as fear of contagion or rejection of a perceived limited life (Flower et al., 2007; Barney, 2012; Grayson & Marini, 1996; French, 1992). These simulations tend to simplify disability into physical challenges, overlooking the social and cultural dimensions. Additionally, the focus on accessibility, though successful, is often confined to a materialist approach, concentrating on "structures that generate oppression" (Priestley, 1998 in Escuriet, 2021), limiting the understanding of disability through these experiences.

My doctoral research addresses these limitations by applying a cultural geography framework to disability simulation. This communication explores how cultural geography can contribute to critical disability studies by focusing on how children embody disability experiences (Longhurst, 2000). It draws on the concepts of embodied experiences, sensory engagement, and relational spaces, aiming to reconceptualize disability simulations and deconstruct reductive representations. Sensory experience creates a triptych of meaning, emotions, and sensitivity (Manola, 2019), integrating multisensory experience, emotions, and sensitivity (Sgard, Ernwein, 2012), alongside a focus on the body.

This research challenges the notion of disability as a binary and emphasizes the importance of reducing the distance between 'Self' and 'Other,' moving away from the process of 'Othering' (Staszak, 2008). My methodology, framed within a more-than-representational approach, combines participant observation with the creation of animated films alongside children. This approach seeks to offer a deeper understanding of how disability simulations shape children’s representations of disability, fostering more critical and nuanced perspectives.

The Joint research community GRAPHIC(1) is a Research and action group on living modes, socio-spatial innovation and citizenship. This community brings together players from civil society and the academic world, with a view to creating a research network. The composition of the consortium is interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary (geography, sociology, psychology, management sciences). This paper focuses on spatial approaches to disability.

The GRAPHIC community explores the question of citizenship through the lived participation of people with disabilities. GRAPHIC questions the singularity of the living experience of people with disabilities in the various territories. This participation is confirmed by the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities of United Nation and the French law N° 2005-102 for the equal rights and opportunities, the participation and citizenship of disabled people. In this paper, we focus on the principles adopted by the GRAPHIC community to encourage the participation of disabled residents in workshops and to gather different experiences of living.

Workshops with disabled people are at the heart of the GRAPHIC program. Several qualitative methods and tools are available to local residents. This paper presents the tools chosen by the residents. They enable us to understand the spatial dimension of the living experiences of disabled people. Experimenting with tools selected by the residents themselves allows us to capture their relationship with space. This paper shares experiences of living in different ways: the accessibility of housing and the residential environment, residential choices, everyday spatial practices, and so on.

Whatever their living arrangements, the places where they live, or their relationship to daily mobility, residents express common positions on the subject of their freedom to act and movement. This paper focuses on the participants' relationship to citizenship, based on their living experiences.

(1) GRAPHIC - Ce projet a été financé par la Caisse nationale de solidarité pour l’autonomie (CNSA) dans le cadre du programme de soutien à la recherche « Autonomie : personnes âgées, personnes en situation de handicap à tous les âges de la vie, proches et professionnels » conduit par l’Institut pour la Recherche en Santé Publique (IReSP) ». « AAP-2023-SCMR-331215 »

This paper deploys a legal geography lens to examine the rights of disabled people to independent living with a focus on empirical conditions in Ireland. There are over 1.5 million disabled people living in institutional settings across the EU, including at least 3,500 people in Ireland. These environments are inherently restrictive and discriminatory, and breach disabled people’s rights under international law. Drawing on the use of rights-based approaches in geography and the social sciences, this paper will outline the overlap between disability rights and the importance of personal private space to support the dignity and autonomy of disabled people. An overview of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities illustrates the socio-legal significance of being able to live independently, while engagements with the lived experiences of individuals in institutional settings in Ireland demonstrates the negative impacts of these confining contexts. Combined these strands show how geography can help articulate a distinct spatial appreciation for the private sphere as a site of dignity and the capacity to control the basic aspects of one’s life. Additionally, it will highlight the challenges faced by disabled people in exercising their entitlements under international human rights law at a local level. Finally, the paper suggests ways in which rights-based approaches can enrich how geographers theorise and study disability.

This paper is part of the recent development, in French-speaking research, of a spatial approach to disability (Rapegno and Popescu, 2020) and combines the contributions of social geography and geography of children and young people. Children's and young people's disabilities are often viewed through the lens of their access to school. Indeed, ‘inclusive education’, enshrined in French law, is a major issue. However, individuals also develop outside of school and adolescence is a period of discovery and acquisition of autonomous mobility, in negotiation with adults. Teenagers with disabilities can be perceived as doubly vulnerable in the public space, because of their age and their disability. It is then important to look more broadly at their place in the urban context.
The aim of this paper is therefore to understand the relationship between teenagers and the city from the perspective of the institution in which they are supported on a daily basis and called DIME (Medical and Educational Institution) : How do these young people experience the city? How do they use space? How do the social workers who work with them consider space ?
This paper is based on an ethnographic study carried out as part of a European program (Erasmus+ Strategic partnership, Urban Age Ethics - URGE, 2023-2026), and more specifically on observations, interviews with professionals and four workshops with a group of young people living with intellectual disability. These workshops, using pictures as well as in-situ journeys, enabled young people to express their relationship with different places. By cross-referencing these data with the observations and views of professionals, this paper suggests ways in which the relationship between young people in DIME and the city can be better taken into account.

Reference :
Rapegno, N., & Popescu, C. (2020). Géographies du handicap. In N. Rapegno & C. Popescu (éds.), Géographies du handicap (1 ). Éditions des maisons des sciences de l’homme associées. https://doi.org/10.4000/books.emsha.733

The critical turn in disability studies is characterised by an emphasis on the lived experience of disability (Tabin et al., 2019). This shift invites an understanding of disability as a capacity to establish new forms of relationship with one's environment, one's territory and the communities that constitute it. Disability is no longer regarded as merely a public health concern or an administrative category, but rather as « an opportunity to discover other ways of being in the world [...] to recognise and value our interdependence » (Kafer, 2013).

This approch to disability, by focusing on individual experiences, is part of a cultural geography approach (Claval, 2001). However, this field remains relatively unexplored in the context of health geography research (Fleuret et al., 2022). A significant challenge lies in the representation of individuals' experiences of disability. The processes of invisibilisation of marginal experiences, epistemic injustice (Fricker, 2007), silencing, and issues related to enunciation and reception act as epistemic obstacles (Godrie & Gross, 2024), impeding the conduct of such studies.

The present paper puts forward the hypothesis of a literary diversion as a potential translation of the lived experience of disability. By adopting the novel as its geographical terrain, literary geography (Brosseau, 2022) has effectively revitalised its thematic content and methodological approaches. An examination will be conducted to ascertain its capacity to surmount the aforementioned epistemological impediments and to enable an analysis of the practices of places and ways of living (Stock, 2003) specific to disability.

In order to explore the methodological contributions and limitations of such an approach, three novels will be analysed through the lens of one of their characters: namely, Hippolyte in Madame Bovary (Flaubert, 1857), Aunt Léonie in La Recherche du temps perdu (Proust, 1927) and Eeyore in Teach Us to Outgrow Our Madness (Oe, 1977). Rather than a literary analysis, the aim will be to take account of the ways in which intimate or public space is invested, the strategies put in place and the characters' relationships to their territory, whether on the scale of a village, a bedroom or a megalopolis.

The continuing decline in biodiversity is among the most urgent global challenges (IPBES 2019). Ecological connectivity is a key factor in effective conservation, as interconnected ecosystems are vital for sustaining species diversity (Hilty et al. 2020). Water availability is especially pivotal, since both terrestrial and aquatic habitats depend on geo-hydrological processes. High mountain areas such as the Alps—hotspots for numerous endemic species—are highly susceptible to land-use pressures and climate change, with melting glaciers intensifying water scarcity (EEA 2010).

International environmental strategies, including the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030, and the EU Nature Restoration Law, aim to strengthen ecological resilience and counter accelerating habitat loss. This research investigates how these global and EU-wide strategies for sustainable development and biodiversity conservation are integrated into existing Alpine governance structures, and how they become institutionally anchored and strategically implemented. Given that the Alps constitute both an ecologically fragile high mountain ecosystem and a transnational cooperation area, clarifying how broader policy goals translate into this multi-level governance framework is essential.

Drawing on a multi-level governance perspective, this study analyzes implementation processes across several spatial scales, taking into account the Alpine region’s transnational characteristics and the Alpine Convention’s role as a cooperation platform. Methodologically, it combines a policy analysis of relevant documents with semi-structured qualitative expert interviews. The objective is to identify regional governance strategies that foster cross-national and cross-sectoral connectivity and to propose recommendations for future action, particularly concerning Alpine land-use and sectoral planning procedures (Job et al. 2020).

References:

EEA (2010): Europe's ecological backbone: recognizing the true value of our mountains. EEA Report 6. Copenhagen. URL: https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/publications/europes-ecological-backbone?activeTab=22266594-97f5-4524-946f-095a50759ae7 (accessed 10^th of January 2025).

Hilty, J.*, Worboys, G.L., Keeley, A.*, Woodley, S.*, Lausche, B., Locke, H., Carr, M., Pulsford I., Pittock, J., White, J.W., Theobald, D.M., Levine, J., Reuling, M., Watson, J.E.M., Ament, R. & Tabor, G.M.* (2020): Guidelines for conserving connectivity through ecological networks and corridors. Best Practice Protected Area Guidelines Series No. 30. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.CH.2020.PAG.30.en.

IPBES (2019): Summary for policymakers of the global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services [S. Díaz, J. Settele, E. S. Brondízio, H. T. Ngo, M. Guèze, J. Agard, A. Arneth, P. Balvanera, K. A. Brauman, S. H. M. Butchart, K. M. A. Chan, L. A. Garibaldi, K. Ichii, J. Liu, S. M. Subramanian, G. F. Midgley, P. Miloslavich, Z. Molnár, D. Obura, A. Pfaff, S. Polasky, A. Purvis, J. Razzaque, B. Reyers, R. Roy Chowdhury, Y. J. Shin, I. J. Visseren-Hamakers, K. J. Willis & C. N. Zayas (eds.)]. IPBES secretariat, Bonn, Germany. 56 pages. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3553579.

Job, H., Willi, G., Mayer, M. & M. Pütz (2020): Open Spaces in Alpine Countries: Analytical Concepts and Preservation Strategies in Spatial Planning. Mountain Research and Development 40 (3), D1-11. https://doi.org/10.1659/MRD-Journal-D-20-000161.

Groundwater resources and soil functionality are essential for healthy ecosystems (e.g. Hölting/Coldewey 2013). Soils provide the foundation for food production, air quality and vegetation, making them critical for human survival (Ernstberger/Bornemann 2020). However, urbanization, renewable energy expansion, and climate change (e.g. droughts, floods, and landslides) increasingly degrade soils through erosion and sealing (e.g. Pirnat/Hladnik 2017; Meyer et al. 2023). Alpine valleys, with their topographic constraints, face challenges in maintaining their cultural landscapes under these pressures.

Spatial planning is often tasked with minimizing negative effects from land uses and coordinating but the cross-sectoral integration does oftentimes not exceed ordinary procedures resulting in knowledge gaps (e.g. Eichhorn et al. 2023). This research examines how modern spatial planning addresses the safeguarding of functioning open spaces specifically for groundwater resources and soil retention capacity in the Alps. It focuses on agricultural open spaces, which are under growing pressure from competing demands for energy and food, impacting groundwater retention and analyses the role of wetlands within spatial planning systems.

A theoretical framework based on water and soil governance (e.g. Hill 2013) highlights gaps and potentials in regulative planning instruments for protecting soil functionality. A mixed-methods approach was applied in Bavaria and South Tyrol, combining qualitative expert interviews, literature reviews, and planning document analysis. The study also includes a geo-analytical evaluation of ecosystem services and priority areas for groundwater management under four spatial planning scenarios: business as usual, market-oriented, conservative and sustainable.

Despite their understanding as open spaces, management of agricultural areas is poorly integrated into spatial planning instruments, often treated as a "black hole." Current instruments and regulations fail to address the intensity of historically grown agricultural land use, a major threat to groundwater quality. Political pressures and rigid laws hinder effective management by overlooking case-specific evaluations. Significant changes in spatial planning, supported by both regulatory and communicative instruments, are needed to address these challenges and foster greater accountability as well as visibility of the challenges ahead.

Climate change impacts mountain areas and especially the Alps significantly. Melting permafrost, retreating glaciers, shifting precipitation patterns and sharp temperature increase rapidly change environmental conditions. Improved water management in agricultural areas is key to tackle intensifying climate risks such as droughts, pluvial flooding or erosion. Especially agriculturally used forelands need to see measures implemented to retain, infiltrate and harvest water to sustain primary production and safeguard/improve the ecological status. Nature-based solutions (NbS) implemented on private land can be an essential component in such a strategy.

Besides the identification of spatial patterns of climate risks and the overall suitable NbS to tackle them, the assessment of co-benefits and trade-offs is crucial to integrate the water-energy-food-ecosystem nexus into decision making processes. Therefore, the research is centered around the questions how co-benefits and trade-offs of different NbS can be identified and assessed with an accessible framework. Within the scope of the question, a tailor-made multi-criteria analysis framework was developed to be able to: (i) compare different NbS options concerning their co-benefits and trade-offs in a transparent manner, (ii) collaboratively assess and discuss NbS options with local stakeholders – in particular with landowners.

The presented research will reflect on the role and potential of spatially disperse NbS concerning the water-energy-food-ecosystem in Alpine forelands based on the practical application in the river Lafnitz catchment. The focus lies on the identification of methodological approaches as well as procedural elements that are crucial for a collaborative approach to tackle climate risks and generate co-benefits.