Conflicting Values in Rural Planning: A Multifunctionality Approach through Social Multi-Criteria Evaluation

Abstract

The planning of rural land depends, to a large extent, on the agreed-upon agrarian and forestry development model. Within the framework of agrarian multifunctionality, to evaluate different development alternatives and their effect on territorial planning, its multiple dimensions must be considered as well as the interests and needs of the stakeholders. This work thus addresses the comprehensive evaluation of development alternatives for the rural area of a municipality of the Basque Country (Spain) through the implementation of a multi-criteria evaluation method with social participation. The results show, firstly, the existence of trade-offs between the functions to be promoted in the various development models evaluated. Secondly, the results indicate the need to reverse recent trends in the sector and the convenience of moving towards an agro-livestock model of greater ecological and local character, independently of the followed forest model. In fact, the evaluation carried out also reveals, thirdly, the existence of more or less latent conflicts, in particular with regards to forest policy.

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“…Counter positions do not stop at the material level, since there are symbolic elements of identity and satisfaction of basic needs, which are related to natural resources and geography. These interests shape the positions of the social stakeholders in a dispute [11,16].…”

“…In recent times, protected natural areas have greatly suffered from anthropogenic influences, and for this reason it is necessary to implement new conservation techniques for protected areas. The surface of protected areas worldwide in recent years has augmented to the point that currently 14% of the earths land surface has some form of protection [15,16]. Legislation in a protected area can generate detrimental conflicts when it is not managed correctly.…”

“…Mismanaged conflicts in protected areas can often make the situation worse than it started out [14,15]. The problems and conflicts that arise in natural protected areas require solutions derived from multidisciplinary approaches honoring ethical values, where decisions and discussions are conducted in an adaptive and transparent manner [16]. Access and use of natural resources in protected areas generate frequent conflicts among social stakeholders.…”

“…Currently, the field of conservation seeks to implement integration models that meet the needs of the main stakeholders in protected areas, in order that the conservation objectives are not affected by potential conflicts, which almost always arise due to economic disputes in relation to compensation or royalties. [9,16,18].…”

“…Generally, the causes of socio-environmental conflicts go beyond simple differences between stakeholders being strongly linked to power relations and values related to the socio-cultural history of a territory [10,16]. Conflicts are often associated with instability, unrest, violence, stalemate in relationships, and lack of cooperation.…”