1. Urban-rural linkages important for sustainable development? Wolfram Güthler, CEO, German Association for Landcare Brussels 1/23/2009

2. 2 Bridging the gap between man and nature Bilder The German Association for Landcare (DVL): umbrella organisation of 145 regional Landcare Associations (LCA's) in Germany LCA: societies, founded by landusers, environmentalists and local politicians; acknowledged as non-profit organisation serving the public interest Sorry: my report is focused on Germany and our experiences

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6. 6 Urban sprawl More than 100 ha of land consumption / day in Germany EFRE has pushed this development Reduction of land consumption needs a complex strategy (change in tax system and peoples attitudes, other funding, spatial planning) Compensation measures can be usefull for rural-urban linkages

7. New rural areas in cities Depopulation of cities in eastern Germany Former socialist apartment blocks have been brocken away restoration of species rich meadows in Chemnitz (Saxony) by using hay from neighbouring rural areas

8. 8 Rural people in the City:Marketing of regional products Let´s bring urban and rural together Urban people in the outback: Celebration for mountain meadows in the Saxonian Erzgebirge

10. Regional initiatives in Germany

11. European Funding – example LEADER Success storry (bottum-up approach,…) Max. 150.000 inhabitants possible (but exceptions) to have less than 150.000 inhabitants in a LEADER-process, towns are often excluded Result: urban-rural linkages are cut

12. 12 Do urban citizen know a frog, or where the milk comes from etc.? Do they have a feeling for that? Sustainability needs education (not only for children) (Not only) a matter of education Foto: v. Elsen

13. 13 (Not only) a matter of education Foto: v. Elsen

14. European Funding – example biodiversity River Lech in Bavaria Central biotope network City of Augsburg Rural-urban linkages and Funding EFRD – Axis 3: only in rural areas EFRD: Natura 2000 only if it contributes to economic development and / or diversification of rural areas Augsburg Augsburg

16. European Funding – example WFD River Ocker in Lower Saxony Weir plant in the little river Ocker in the city of Braunschweig Serious problem for the implementation of the WDR and the Natura 2000 areas upside the river in rural areas No EU-Funding

17. 17 Final remark Foto: v. Elsen Europe has a lot to do