FS 2.162
Social innovation in mountain areas
This session is archived
Full Title
FS 2.162: From constraints to opportunities for social innovation: To what extent do mountain conditions favor the emergence of collective action for society and environment?Scheduled
TBALocation
TBAConvener
Co-Conveners
Carine Pachoud, Rosalind Bryce, Etienne Polge, Olivier BarrièreAssigned to Synthesis Workshop
---Thematic Focus
No focus definedKeywords
Social innovation, collective action, citizen engagement, geographic specificities, community development
Description
Mountain areas are characterized by specific social and environmental challenges where social innovation (SI) may emerge. According to the H2020 SIMRA project, social innovation refers to “the reconfiguring of social practices, in response to societal challenges, which seeks to enhance outcomes on societal well-being and necessarily includes the engagement of civil society actors”. SI provides alternative models that can contribute towards ecological and social transitions in mountain areas. Examples include cooperatives for territorial resilience, citizen-run shops, agricultural collectives, community energy initiatives, social farming and valorization of cultural heritage and identity. Outputs may be intangible and include innovative modes of governance, engagement of new actors and lead to more empowered communities. This session will explore the role and organization of SI collective action in mountain areas. It will address the motivations for action and consider how SI emergence and development depends on the specific context and conditions of mountain areas.