Abstract ID: 3.13006 | Accepted as Poster | Talk | TBA | TBA

Mountain communities over time have developed the capacity to adapt to their fragile environments, to cope with difficult living conditions, and to provide sustainable solutions for the management of natural resources and the development of their territory. In the past decades, dramatic changes, such as several global crises, lifestyle and climate changes, have favored settlement dynamics and development models not aligned with sustainability criteria. This is the case of either overdeveloped mountain areas, based for example on the intensive touristic exploitation of the territory, or underdeveloped mountain areas, many of which suffer from depopulation, lack of essential services and job opportunities. These territories, to proactively overcome the above-mentioned dynamics, require innovative approaches, methods and tools, as well as a holistic and long-term development perspective that prioritizes needs and values within their communities. The contribution describes a specific case study, Vital Mountains, a project focused on the local development of a mountain area in the northeastern Alps (Trentino Region). The aim of the project was to promote a socio-ecological transition towards sustainable living through the direct involvement of the local community. From a methodological point of view, the participatory action research approach was adopted to lead – through the research- a real change in the community. To foster such change, researchers also made use of a specific theory of change, the “U Theory” of Otto Scharmer, which is used to address the most pressing global challenges and to co-project the future. Researchers led the local development process drawing on a strategic plan. Both these methodologies and tools are marked from a strongly participatory structure, planned in different phases and characterized by a strong emphasis on collaboration, inclusion and knowledge exchange. The local population, administrators and economic operators have been involved in the participatory process, from the definition of a shared vision for the future of their territory, up to the definition of strategic guidelines to achieve it, and the co-design of the first concrete projects. The authors will describe the methodological approach and discuss weaknesses and strengths in order to identify important factors for self-sustainable development of mountain areas.