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Forum on Sustainable Land Management in Europe. Approaches and Experiences

Forum Report, 21st June 2011, Brussels

The Europe 2020 strategy sets the EU on the path to smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Supporting sustainable use of scarce natural land resources can contribute towards this. As well as reducing uncontrolled greenfield development, this also means reusing derelict land and using opportunities to increase the density of settlement areas in an intelligent way. Thus urban sprawl can be minimized.

Europe is facing major challenges regarding the consumption of land. This issue needs to be taken into account in the planned revision of the European Union Strategy for Sustainable Development.

Germany's Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has taken up these research needs at an early stage, financing the national funding priority "REFINA – Research for the Reduction of Land Consumption and for Sustainable Land Management" over the past five years. Researchers and practitioners from municipalities and regions worked together in 45 practice-oriented research projects to develop solutions for sustainable and innovative land management. The results are now available.

In Germany, the REFINA programme has made a significant contribution towards an increased awareness for the issue, identifying areas requiring change and improving activities regarding land use. Against this backdrop, BMBF seeks to disseminate the REFINA results throughout Europe and discuss them within the scope of the Europe 2020 strategy and the European Strategy for Sustainable Development.

The Forum on Sustainable Land Management in Europe offered a platform for dialogue on these experiences with European institutions, the research community and stakeholders from the field of planning and environment, as well as municipal and regional practitioners from Europe. Key questions included:

• What is the relevance of sustainable land management in light of current spatial development trends in Europe?
• How is sustainable land management linked to European political objectives and programmes (e.g. environment, climate and cohesion policies)?
• What issues are on the agenda? What are the current opportunities and future requirements placed on research funding and knowledge exchange at the European level?
• Which REFINA findings are relevant on a European scale and how can they be transferred?

About eighty representatives of European institutions of diverse research and political backgrounds as well as interest groups and other organisation, participated in this one day conference in Brussels.

Welcome

David Aldenhoff (Representation of the State North Rhine-Westphalia to the EU)

Mr Aldenhoff welcomed all participants to the forum and pointed out the relevance of the subject of sustainability to North Rhine-Westphalia's activities in Brussels.

Dr. Stephanie Bock (German Institute of Urban Affairs)

In her welcome speech Mrs Bock introduced the audience to the German Institute of Urban Affairs. She then outlined the tasks and aims of the project management organisation of the BMBF funding priority REFINA.

In addition to an introduction on the REFINA funding priority and its importance to the EU, sustainable land use management issues as well as further needs in research and funding dominated the first part of the conference.

The funding priority REFINA: Objectives, fields of action and results.

Wilfried Kraus (Deputy Director General Sustainability, Climate, Energy, German Federal Ministry of Education and Research)

Mr Kraus outlined the importance of land management considering current European challenges illustrated by current data on land use and land utilisation. Enduring suburbanisation processes and urban sprawl require change within Europe. In the following he explained the BMBF funding priority REFINA, its aims, focus, results and products. He stressed the importance of its transdisciplinary research approach, the research theme and the outstanding practical relevance within the European context.

Sustainable land management - The need for research and research funding from a European perspective?

Dr. Hartmut Barth (Directorate General for Research and Innovation, European Commission, Direction I: Environment)

Mr Barth presented the research approaches and funded research projects with regard to sustainable land use management within the 6th and 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development. Future research funding, however, needs to be increasingly focused on strategic action. Clearly stating the need for future research and innovation, he revealed an outlook for the next steps developing future EU research programmes.

This was followed by a reflexion and discussion on necessary EU research activities and arrangements concerning a sustainable land management. The different positions of the podium, consisting of the view of municipalities and regions, the planner community as well as the European advisory bodies on environment and sustainability were complemented by the audience.

Statement from the point of view of municipalities and regions

Eha Võrk (Deputy Mayor of the City of Tallinn)

During her introduction, Mrs Võrk explained the urban development in Tallinn, which is comparable to many other cities of the world. Urban sprawl and suburbanisation shape the city's structure and affect the living quality of its inhabitants. In peri-urban areas a lack in infrastructure correlates with high mobility and car ownership rates. Bad effects on the environment are a result, coming along with other urban issues. However, there is a continued movement of people from the city into the ‘golden circle' and low density areas. According to Mrs Võrk urban development in Tallinn therefore needs to be directed towards a more sustainable development. A compact development in line with goals and principles of sustainability - for example to primarily improve existing housing areas and infrastructure, instead of building new ones on the outskirts - are on the top of the planning agenda.

A restriction to this is given by the poor economic development and the financial situation of the municipalities. Design qualities often come secondary in political decisions on construction investments. To find investors for ambitious design projects, for example the Kolpi-Strand development, is not an easy task. However, the municipality will not be able to, for example, supply the needed infrastructure autonomously. In addition to the financial crisis Mrs Võrk mentions a lack of current data on city development, caused by a hindering political and judicial framework. These fields impede a sustainable development and should be balanced and solved on a European level.

Statement from the point of view of European Environment and Sustainability Development Advisory Councils

Jan Verheeke (Director of the Flemish Environment Council ‘Minaraad'/European Environment and Sustainable Development Advisory Councils (EEAC))

According to Mr Verheeke the main task of the European Environment and Sustainability Development Advisory Councils is an annual European-wide conference. Here, global, European but also national differences are being recognised. Different challenges emerge in respect to land management issues: the diverse economic status of different regions, the competition of rural areas, and the situation of peripheral areas. Therefore, dynamic public policy is needed to serve individual land use requirements on a global but also local level.

Research can provide different contributions regarding the urban and rural level. In rural areas researchers need to focus on farming, forestry and water management; whereas, economic interests play a major role in urban areas. A need for improved data exchange exists for example to support public private partnership (PPP). Furthermore, Mr Verheeke highlighted the urgent need in improving organisation and legislation regarding a sustainable land management. An integrated land management encompasses management aspects in the true sense of the word, but also good governance and adequate policy frameworks.

Statement from the point of view of planners

Dirk Engelke (Vice President of the International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP))

According to Mr Engelke, different types of sprawl need to be distinguished whilst discussing sustainable land management. Regional diversity between the North and East of Europe but also differences according to size like metropolitan areas, peri-urban and rural areas need to be considered and responded to individually. Different problems of the diverse regions require differentiated problem-solving strategies. European diversity, as apparent in territorial and governmental differences, indicates specific capacities regarding sustainable land management. Land banking, to rise public land ownership and to control land use, is an important but problematic tool in times of economic crisis. Unfortunately, capacity building currently only plays a small part in sustainable land management. The role of NGOs as well as private firms and companies need to be focused on to enhance cooperation like PPP. Otherwise uncontrolled investment of private investors and other interest groups will counteract sustainable land management.

The gap between academia, politics, economy and the current development is hindering cooperation with people and groups involved in land management. Obviously, there is a lack of transdisciplinarity and strategic visions. Nevertheless positive examples existed. France for example managed to combine structural data with current data of the real estate market and therefore combines potentials of the two sources. Mr Engelke proposes to get all mayors on one table and discuss future steps with concerned planners, landowners and developers.

 

The second part of the conference aimed at disseminating the issue "Research for the Reduction of Land Consumption and for Sustainable Land Management" (REFINA) on a European level. Presentations on experiences and good examples, obtained from the BMBF programme REFINA, took place. The three main topics, data-basis and information for sustainable land management, the follow-up costs of settlement development and the communication and awareness-building processes for land use, were put into a European context and commented by practitioners.

Data and information basis for sustainable land management: What is the status quo?

Dr. Angelika Perner (Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR)

Mrs Perner presented the diverse fields of application for data and land information regarding land management. Amongst others, land use monitoring, the preparation of land use prognosis, the collection, evaluation and mobilization of land potentials, the evaluation of land which is of great relevance to nature conservation but also the development of land policy goals and a profound communication of the topic itself, can be regarded as application areas. Furthermore, she described the different activities of spatial and urban research in Germany and Europe (e.g. Corine Land Cover). In relation to current research in the context of REFINA she illustrated two projects, the "Barometer of land consumption" and "DoRiF". Both approaches use remote sensing data for land use monitoring and, respectively, for the evaluation of the effectiveness of regional plans as well as a small-scale building-related ex-post analysis of settlement development on the basis of geological data.

Mrs Perner stood in for a synchronisation of data management in Europe, regarding precise coverage and updating intervals. Claiming a unified, sustainable and independent European monitoring system, she referred to GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security), an initiative established by the European Commission and the European Space Agency.

Sustainable residential development: What will considering follow-up costs achieve?

Andrea Dittrich-Wesbuer (Research Institute for Regional and Urban Development, Dortmund)

The main focus of Mrs Dittrich-Wesbuer's presentation was on tools for a cost-benefit analysis of settlement development. In recent years and due to the BMBF funding priority REFINA, a wide range of tools have been developed within Germany. They enable municipalities and residents to analyse short-, mid-, and long-term costs of settlement development. Fiscal benefits expected by municipalities developing new settlements, have to be put into perspective. The consideration of rising expenditures, which are connected to the settlement development and long term costs for technical and social infrastructure can reveal a different truth and guide municipalities in their land use decisions. The profound evaluation of costs and benefits will especially be of relevance to cities and region that undergo or expect the population decline.

Using the example of LEANkom, Mrs Dittrich-Wesbuer illustrated the parameters needed for such evaluation, for example technical and social infrastructure, costs of financing, fiscal revenue from personal income tax and property tax as well as a system integrated small-scale population prognosis. LEANkom was developed to support the decision-making processes within strategic urban land-use planning with a specific focus on housing.

On the one hand side, the presentation outlined the impacts of demographic change on the demand for land and the accompanying sensitisation of municipalities considering mid- and long-term costs of settlement development. On the other hand, the presentation revealed a need for additional research to be able to further analyse, for example, the development of commercial land or more precisely estimate the costs of settlement development by creating a strong regional focus.

Comments

Joachim Zeller (Member of European Parliament, Committee of Regional Development)

According to Mr Zeller the urban dimension should gain importance in European Policy and Funding Programmes. Regarding sustainable land management there was an obvious lack in awareness that needed to be addressed to achieve better action. In the past 20 years cities, such as Berlin, had to deal with great problems adjusting to small-scale decline in school enrolment followed by an unexpected increase. Therefore, follow-up cost calculation is necessary for cities with a strong decline in population. Trans-border developments, like in Szczecin, are of great interest as well. A declining demand for living space on the German side faces a rising demand in parts of the Polish side. This rise in housing demand can be identified close to the German border.

Communication and raising awareness of land issues – How to inspire politics, economy and society?

Dr. Michael Melzer (Institut Raum & Energie, Wedel (outside Hamburg))

Using the example of the REFINA-cooperation project "Zukunft Fläche" that took place in the metropolitan region of Hamburg, Mr Melzer demonstrated different approaches for a target-group-specific communication of land use issues. The communication of the complex, problematic and elusive theme was successfully addressed within the project. However, to have municipal politicians, mayors and administrative planning experts working together required to focus on core messages.

Within this REFINA-project good experiences were made with issues like inner development, cost reduction and the conservation of property values. Future conferences (German: Zukunftswerkstätten), regional conferences on specific issues and board meetings took place. Here, the audience was addressed emotionally and planning instruments, cost calculators and best-practice examples were presented and discussed. An internet platform, an online newsletter, postcards, brochures as well as a clip were produced and used for additional communication. Furthermore, Mr Melzer introduced the idea of cooperation between municipalities by using the example of the Stadt-Umland-Modell. Voluntariness, equality, and consensus are the key principles to success within these cooperation. The so called "Stadt-Umland-Modell Elmshorn/Pinneberg" is part of the REFINA-cooperation projects and focuses on integrating municipal policies into different types of cooperation and communication, such as a regional conference, a committee of mayors and a working committee. However, there always needs to be a balance of interests between all parties involved.

Comments

Folkert Kiepe(Deputy, German Association of Cities)

Mr Kiepe confirms the vivid presentation of Mr Melzer, considering intermunicipal competition as a core problem of a commonly agreed on settlement development. At the same time many municipalities in Germany fear administrative reforms or incorporation. This would take away their powers and possibilities to control local development. A mutual ground and equal rights are an essential basis for cooperation between municipalities, to ensure equal powers. The deciding factors are convincing goals as well as equal rights for all parties involved in the cooperation. So far, the German Association of Cities (Deutscher Städtetag) has managed to widely introduce the idea of an integrated settlement and traffic development as being core elements of the concept of a compact and mixed-use city. To reach a broad recognition of these ideas, it had been a long, hard road. The EU could enable cooperation and subject integration within the municipality, for example by improving the coordination of the different sectoral policies of the commission and supporting a stronger focus on cohesion policy and the actual contents of the Leipzig Charta from 2007. Apart from ecological arguments, cost benefits of an integrated settlement development have to be increasingly considered in regards to future development. Intermunicipal cooperation and partnerships should be better integrated into EU programmes. The goals outlined in the European Commission's new Transport White Paper have to be supported by a coherent EU policy. Contra-productive stimulations like the commuting allowance should be abolished in respect of a sustainable land policy. Additionally, property tax should be valuated according to land values but also adjusted to prevailing conditions and a possible under-utilisation of the lot. Infrastructure investments should be planned in line with the costs-by-cause principle.

Closing remarks

Wilfried Kraus (Deputy Director General Sustainability, Climate, Energy, German Federal Ministry of Education and Research)

Mr Kraus pointed out the great success of the Forum, by highlighting the event's contribution to "community building" for a sustainable land management within Europe. The major contribution of the BMBF's funding priority REFINA to the research and practical work within Germany was and would continue to be of great importance. The BMBF funding programme on "Sustainable Land Management" which was implemented in 2010 will reconsider core outcomes of REFINA and put them into a new context within its module B.

For sustainable land management it would be critical also to monitor long-term changes. Therefore reliable and consistent data on a European level would be necessary. He considered demographic change as an important stimulus to national and European policies or funding. If resulting economic challenges could be identified early on, both, economy and ecology, would gain profit. The compact city was a good example. In general, the European Commission with its Directorates General for Research and Innovation, Environment, Regional Policy, Agriculture and Rural Development are asked to contribute. The 8th Research Framework Programme should consider new approaches for a sustainable land management to support future development.

[Further Information on the forum]