1. Sustainable rural development – a precondition for tourism in natural landscapes
Christina Pfeiffer,
Ministry of Energy, Agriculture, the Environment and Rural Areas, Land of Schleswig-Holstein )

2. funding policy: aims at improving the living conditions in rural areas
sustainable rural development – a precondition for tourism in natural landscapes
extension of the topic “sustainable tourism”: development of rural regions affords to take a look at the whole
sustainable tourism in rural areas is closely related to the vitality and the resiliency of a region
funding policy: aims at improving the living conditions in rural areas
strategy for a sustainable rural development in Schleswig-Holstein
photos: Ingo Wandmacher

3. Challenges for rural areas
Schleswig-Holstein has about 2.9 million inhabitants and is rather sparsely populated (181 inhabitants/km²). 78% of the inhabitants live in rural regions. We have many small villages with less than 1000 inhabitants.
Challenges:
Many rural areas are facing the problems of remoteness, scarcity of job opportunities and decreasing living conditions.
They are confronted with demographic changes - depopulation and ageing of the population. The demographic development differs according to the structure of each subregion.
Long-term problems of rural regions are to be found in structural deficits.

4. objectives for rural development
saving and improving the living conditions in rural areas (social and environmental aspects) - there is a great need to secure the infrastructure for education, mobility, basic supply, social services, medical care, etc.
providing high-speed internet access in all rural communities, because otherwise they will be cut off from further development.
creating new jobs and securing existing ones (economic aspect)
stimulating more joint responsibility and joint efforts by private and public actors in the regions
Investments, carried out in rural areas should support a sustainable integrated development.

5. Financial support: EAFRD 2014-2020
Funding: the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD ) supports interventions stimulating growth and promoting environmental and socio-economic sustainability of rural areas,
in particular through the development of local infrastructure (including fast broadband, renewable energy and social infrastructure) and local basic services (including leisure, health, culture),
as well as through the renewal of villages and activities aimed at the upgrading of the cultural and natural heritage of villages and rural landscapes.

6. Instrument: EU-LEADER approach
LEADER: a community led - integrated - territorial – development tool on local level aiming to contribute to the long term sustainable development of rural areas

7. LEADER-Approach in Schleswig-Holstein: 22 Active Regions
LEADER as an area-based bottom-up tool brings together public and private sector.
22 LEADER “local action groups” – named „ActiveRegions“ have established themselves in Schleswig-Holstein. The size of the regions varies between inhabitants.
LEADER-regions in Schleswig-Holstein had to elaborate a rural development strategy for their recognition, integrating four key issues (climate change & energy, basic supply, education, growth & innovation).
Each ActiveRegion receives a budget of up to €2,86 million from the EU fund.
The ActiveRegions make the decisions on the projects with a minimum share of 51% economic and social partners and other representatives of civil society.
A “network of all ActiveRegions” has been established, aiming to provide information, sharing experiences, networking and training.

8. 22 AktivRegionen in Schleswig-Holstein

9. Impressions of LEADER-projects
photos: Ingo Wandmacher

10. Impressions of LEADER-projects
photos: Ingo Wandmacher

11. 22 LEADER ActiveRegions LEADER ActiveRegions
By implementing the strategy of “ActiveRegions” our goal is to empower both: the local authorities and the members of civil society. We want to stimulate cooperation between different sectors and between private and public participants.
We need new partnerships and networks to find creative innovative solutions for the current and forthcoming challenges.

12. Additional flagship-projects
Additional EU support (EAFRD) is provided for so called “flagship-projects”. They are subject to a land-wide quality competition:
maintaining of basic services – with a focus on the local food supply and to secure education (MarktTreff is one of those flagship projects)
encouragement of rural tourist activities, development of rural tourism
preservation and marketing of the rural cultural heritage (estates, castles, parks, etc.)

13. local basic supply (incl. education) preserving of cultural heritage
flagship projects
local basic supply (incl. education)
preserving of cultural heritage
infrastructure rural tourism
photos: Ingo Wandmacher

14. providing broadband infrastructure in rural regions €20 million EAFRD
More task fields of rural development
providing broadband infrastructure in rural regions €20 million EAFRD
modernisation of rural roads €8 million EAFRD

15. revival of an old farmhouse
Flagship project: Hof Viehbrook
The project:
rural culture, education and adventure center
restoration, extension of a heritage-protected farmhouse with restaurant and a traditional blacksmith’s workshop
protection of old domestic animals
holiday flats, seminar rooms and a room for marriage ceremonies
farmyard kindergarten and “Noah’s ark”
out-of-school educational facility
local supply of products by providing a MarktTreff
aims:
revitalization of the farm
economic revival of the village
revival of an old farmhouse

16. for our fishing heritage
EFF-Project: rowing boat landing places in Maasholm
The project:
preservation of historical, local rowing boat landing places in the fishing village of Maasholm
restoration of a working harbour in line with the
preservation of sites of historic interest
aims:
support of a small fishing community
integration into the tourism infrastructure of Maasholm (walking tour of the Maasholm Peninsula)
presentation of information about rowing boat fishing in Maasholm
a future
for our fishing heritage

17. art without borders Points of artistic interest The project:
creation of a cross-border art and culture brochure for the region from Husum to the south of Denmark as well as an art banner to help position the studios and the artists’ workshops
in addition, setting-up an internet platform
aims:
increasing awareness for art and craftsmanship in the cross-border region on both sides of the German-Danish border
establishing a cross-border touristic offering
networking of artists
art
without borders

18. the circus ring is calling Flagship project: Circus Ubuntu School
The project:
Ubuntu Circus School: mentoring children and young people with special needs
Youth Circus Ubuntu: a circus show with props designed and created by young people, club members and parents for the annual summer tour
aims:
to provide an alternative to a children’s home
to support and consolidate Ubuntu by providing performers, artists and manual work
to put together a four week tour program every year
the circus ring
is calling

19. making life worth living with dementia
residential community for people with dementia
Flagship project:
establishing the residential complex Lichthof with twelve housing units, communal kitchen, terrace and sensory garden in the village centre of Hürup
currently all units are occupied and there is a long waiting list
aims:
creation of a residential project in a rural area with outpatient care and socially acceptable rental prices
helping to ensure as high a level of independence as possible whilst providing an appropriate level of support
voluntary work in the household community and in the association
making life worth living with
dementia

20. MarktTreffs: multifunctional service-centers
Flagship project: MarktTreff
MarktTreffs: multifunctional service-centers

21. MarktTreff: multifunctional service center
MarktTreff – the concept
MarktTreff: multifunctional service center
food store
regional products
gastronomy / café
health / medical care
tourist information
internet / online services
social services
postal / financial services
municipal administration
collection point
core business:
services:
meeting point / engagement of citizens
shared responsibility
operator / manager
municipality
citizens

22. 13 centers in preparation
MarktTreff - locations
37 MarktTreffs
13 centers in preparation
great variety of offers adapted to the location

23. MarktTreff: multifunctional learning project

24. at one with nature Flagship project: Outdoor Academy Aschberg
The project:
establishing an outdoor academy with restaurant and affiliated hotel
support for measures with public interest: improvement of local public infrastructure, an observation tower, public toilets,
outdoor facilities, tribune, camping site, sports ground and climbing wall
aims:
careful revitalisation of the Aschberg in accordance with nature
making the area more interesting for tourists and establishing a vehicle for advertising the Hüttener Berge Nature Park
networking the existing tourism infrastructure
safeguarding continued public access to the Aschberg
at one with
nature

25. LEADER ActiveRegions
The aim of “ActiveRegions” is to encourage people to take over more responsibility and to mobilise creative forces through new partnerships.
establishment of permanent regional networks comprising citizens, associations, companies and municipalities
regional managements
instruction and further training of citizens as part of the development strategies
The aim of “ActiveRegions” is to encourage new partnerships for better employment and to improve quality of life in rural regions.

26. we need motivated and qualified public and private actors.
Final conclusions
sustainable rural development is a precondition for tourism in natural landscapes: we need healthy resilient regions to create sustainable tourism
we need integrated regional strategies to unfold the endogenous potentials of rural regions – the bottom-approach LEADER is one good tool
we need multifunctional solutions, based on cooperation, innovation and flexibiliy - MarktTreff is a flagship model
we need shared responsibility to master the challenges of the present and the future: networking and cooperation at all levels are key competences
we need motivated and qualified public and private actors.

27. Thank you very much!