Inclusive governance for water areas and coastal landscapes. Participatory planning in the Phlegraean Fields

Abstract

Over the last century, coastal transformation has mainly dealt with urban waterfronts, the enhancement of logistic and economic demands, and the recovery of coastal aesthetic value. However, the current condition of urban shores highlights the need for planning and management to focus on the theme of coastal socio-environmental issues, which require a more inclusive approach. The paper describes the international project 'WAVE: Water Areas Vision for Europe', whose main aim is to propose innovative design and analytical methodologies to balance the gap between local strategies and community demands in coastal areas. Through multi-actor and multi-disciplinary cooperation, the research dealt with the issue of functional and ecological fragmentation of water areas in order to support the establishing of a lasting socio-ecological balance, working at a local and micro-local scale. This contribution explores the 'living lab' tool, applied in the Phlegraean Fields, as an innovative and integrated learning environment, both physical and virtual, in which it is possible to face community problems and propose solutions at a local level, supporting the governance processes underlying sustainable and inclusive changes.

Keywords: coastal areas, sustainable planning, Living labs, water spaces, Phlegraean Fields