Author: Leonie Hasenauer
Stakeholder Involvement in TranStat
Warm temperatures, lack of snow, strong winds, expensive energy, high property prices, ageing populations – the list goes on. Mountain resorts are confronted with different (mega-) trends and driving forces. Existing economic models that determine the local situation in social, environmental and political terms are being challenged.
Local actors not only have place-based experience, they know the most pressing challenges, their own desires and needs. Stakeholders also have the means to make decisions and take action. When stakeholders are involved in analysing their situation and defining their desired sustainable development, they are more likely to develop a sense of ownership and responsibility.
However, as the literature shows, there are many challenges to transdisciplinary approaches. What are the main activities in TranStat and how do project partners involve local stakeholders? What are the success stories and what are the challenges?
To find out, the ÖAW/IGF team is conducting oral interviews and written surveys. Since the project partners are responsible for the Living Labs and determine the co-creative processes, the ÖAW/IGF first wanted to learn about their personal definitions of the project and the Living Labs, as well as their expectations. The research team asked about the formation of the working groups, about initial activities and their goals, and about reflections on experiences.
While the basic concepts, objectives and steps are defined in TranStat, the implementation varies. There are specific conditions and no one-fits-all solution, so the approach has to be adapted. Nevertheless, interviews have shown that the project partners would like further opportunities to exchange experiences for mountain resorts to learn from each other.
