Βιώσιμη χωρική ανάπτυξη: η περίπτωση της ποταμοκοιλάδας του Στρυμόνα

Abstract

This study with the general title “Sustainable spatial development: the case of the Strymonas river basin” sets as the key question the enquiry of principles and requirements for the sustainable spatial development at the local level, focusing on the availability and conservation of the natural resources and water in particular. The approach is based on three general theoretical aspects: the prospect of local development, the meaning of sustainability and the natural resources management in the framework of the designated spatial systems, such as the consideration of the river basins for the water resources management. The approach of the key question is elaborated through the answering on several partial considerations and the final synthesis of the derived conclusions. The structure, the sequence and the correlation of these partial subjects form the proposed elaboration methodology, which consists of two general parts. The first one sets the theoretical and political framework of the study and includes the understanding of the theoretical base of the local development, its connection to the sustainability debate upon natural resources conservation, the emergence of the designated spatial systems as the appropriate geographical and functional level for the connection of the above issues and also the understanding of the components for the realization of these directions through strategic choices, application of policies and operational practices. The second one refers to the elaboration of the empirical part of the study, aiming at the analysis of the selected theoretical and political framework through the example of the Strymonas catchment within Greece. Elements of this examination include the evaluation of the economic and social development characteristics and prospects, the conditions influencing the water storage and availability, and the understanding of the water usage and demand factors. The expected result of the empirical study focuses on the synthetic evaluation of the development prospects of the Strymonas valley in the basis of the sustainable management of the water reserves, which may feedback the higher theoretical and political framework with new specifics and possibly new scientific areas and debates. With the evaluation of the partial results and conclusions, an answer is expected on the initial question of the study that refers to the designation of the choices for the realization of the sustainable development prospect at the local level, delineated by certain human and natural assets and limits. Such findings may be categorized in three levels: the requirements of the water resources management in the Strymonas catchment area in accordance to the current socioeconomic structure, the conclusion on principles and requirements for the sustainable spatial development at the local level based upon the sustainable water management within designated spatial systems, and the validity of the proposed research methodology in relation to new research proposals. More specifically, the sustainable management of the water resources within the Strymonas catchment area, in accordance to the dominant production pattern, refers to a multidimensional approach, key elements of which are found in the understanding of the water supply conditions and the state of the reserves usage. In this framework, the evaluation of the production pattern form the discussion basis, as it influences dramatically the branch of the research dealing with the water demand and in general the pressure on the water reserves. A strategic choice that would start from the assessment that the current socioeconomic system cannot secure the development in the long run and therefore it should reposition its developing means, would eventually create new needs for water availability. However it is difficult and maybe too costly for a system to reposition itself in a drastic way. Even if it is highly demanding in terms of natural resources consumption and especially water and therefore vulnerable to possible disruptions of the hydrological balance, it can still convert the threats into opportunities through targeted intervention and systematization. Such requirements are found: In the competitiveness improvement of the production system and its sustainable evolution through the protection of the natural resources, and the exploitation of the local advantages. In the protection of the natural resources and especially water as a major asset of the local production system. In the enhancement of the institutional and administrative mechanisms of local interest for the support of the natural and human resources management and the completion of the intervention. In the control of the external factors that influence the availability of the water resources. In the rationalization of the water consumption to cover the human, agricultural and industrial needs and In the protection of the water reserves against the quantitative and qualitative degradation. From the examination of the empirical example in the Strymon valley, the main conclusion points out that one of the key requirements for the sustainable evolution of the local economic and production system, lies upon the emergence of the natural resources management and especially water. However, the relation found between development and the availability of the water resources is not unilateral but each part of the equation seems to dependant and influenced by the other, while the fact of interrelation puts the development issue on the integration prospect. This basic assessment of the bilateral relationship between development and natural resources availability expands the discussion to include several specifics towards a more concrete framework of the central idea. Thus it is intended the enhancement of the spatial governance meaning, as the core theoretical, institutional, political and operational framework, in organizing the intervention towards the sustainable spatial development in the local level and central concern the integrated management of the natural resources. Strategic assumptions towards this include: The kind of the desired production pattern (preservation or alteration) The intervention enhancement to secure the availability of natural resources as part of the local assets. The readjustment of the spatial governance model, considering the characteristics of the designated spatial systems. The restructuring of the policies in the local level, considering the characteristics of the designated spatial systems. In that sense, key requirements towards the sustainable spatial development and central concern the natural resources management are found to the adjustment of the institutional framework, the restructuring of the local administrative bodies in order to include more responsibilities, the strengthening of the local managerial actors and of the knowledge-based mechanisms, the enrichment of the operational tools in regulating the use and securing the availability of the natural resources, the cultivation of the social capital and the supporting of the cooperation and participation culture. Finally, the synthesis of the central theoretical assumptions with the strategic priorities set by the examination of the case study, as delineates the basic conclusions, reveals some general elements for the further expansion of the scientific research. These are summarized in the type of economic activities appropriate to support efficiently the prospect of the sustainable spatial development, the emergence of the local identity in the sense of protecting the local advantages, part of which are the natural resources, the emergence of new forms of local administrative and managerial mechanisms and the possible reevaluation of policy orientation in order to specify spatially the strategy on the sustainable management of the natural resources