Project: Towards RUral Synergies and Trade-offs between Economic development and Ecosystem services
In Europe and the United States, developmental paths of rural areas are believed to be plural (Edora, 2011). As early as Thünen (1826), regional and urban economists began analysing spatial and regional disparities through three drivers: (i) natural-resource advantages, (ii) economies of agglomeration, and (iii) costs of transport and communication. Even though natural amenities have been introduced into numerous economic studies, their inclusion remains quite limited. National and international assessments show that ecosystems are and often continue to be degraded; therefore, ecosystem services and public goods are now considered a part of policy and have become increasingly important within the European context (European Commission, 2010). Population and production locations, commodities, and flow of people are critical components of the relationship between economic development and ecosystem services. The trade-off/synergy dilemma between economic development and ecosystem services is one of the major issues of sustainable rural development. The main research objective of TRUSTEE is to disentangle the complex relationships between economic development and ecosystem services at different spatial scales. We will use an interdisciplinary approach that will involve economists, geographers, agronomists, and ecologists. At every step of the research process, we will involve scientists, experts, and stakeholders. In doing so, this research will also strengthen the capacity of a range of stakeholders to design sustainable strategies for rural areas.
| Acronym | TRUSTEE |
| Website | visit project website |
| Network | RURAGRI |
| Call | 1st RURAGRI Call on agricultural, rural and sustainable development aspects. |