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BALANCE: Biocultural Alpine Landscapes to Nurture Communities and Enhance Eco-tourism

BALANCE: Biocultural Alpine Landscapes to Nurture Communities and Enhance Eco-tourism

Programme:

Interreg Alpine Space

Project objective:

The objective of the BALANCE project is to develop a community-led model for safeguarding Alpine landscapes by connecting natural and cultural heritage with the responsible development of eco-tourism. The project responds to the pressures of over-tourism, landscape fragmentation, increasing pressure on sensitive natural areas, and the gradual erosion of local knowledge, crafts and traditions.

BALANCE aims to strengthen the role of local communities as active stewards of their landscapes and to develop forms of tourism use that are not based on increasing visitor numbers, but on better visitor guidance, spatial distribution, and stronger links with nature conservation. Particular emphasis is placed on involving residents, local providers, public institutions, young people, NGOs, and cultural stakeholders in the planning, management, and monitoring of biocultural routes.

The strategic objective of the project is to establish a model of balanced development for Alpine landscapes that simultaneously strengthens nature protection, cultural heritage valorisation, the role of local communities and the development of responsible eco-tourism.

Expected project results:

The expected results of the project include the preparation of a transnational blueprint for the co-creation of biocultural routes, the establishment of a pilot network of seven digitally interconnected Alpine biocultural routes, the development of a jointly developed solution for biocultural route management, and the preparation of policy recommendations and strategic documents to support the integration of project results into local and regional development, spatial planning, tourism and nature conservation policies.

The project will contribute to improved visitor management, reduced pressure on sensitive natural areas, reduced landscape fragmentation, and stronger links between natural and cultural heritage. At the same time, it will strengthen the capacities of municipalities, regions, route managers, protected areas, tourism providers and local communities for the long-term management of biocultural routes.