Dezentrale Besiedlung als Herausforderung für die Raumentwicklung

Abstract

There is currently a debate in Switzer- land about the future of peripheral rural areas and adequate policies for maintaining the de- centralized settlement patterns of the country. This article presents an interdisciplinary analy- sis of the issues of decentralized settlement by focusing on the challenges faced in this realm by the region of Surselva in the Canton of Grisons. More precisely, we analyze the economic, insti- tutional, infrastructural and ecological implica- tions of recent socio-economic changes in this region, showing that the current pressure on de- centralized settlements is a multi-dimensional phenomenon. The analysis draws on data stem- ming from 19 qualitative interviews, secondary socio-economic and survey data, as well as eco- logical modeling. Overall, the results show that there is not a uniformity of pressures on de- centralized settlements in the Surselva region. At the economic level, the situation is one of a patchwork, polarized regional development, where areas of decline co-exist with pockets of dynamic growth. At the institutional level, mu- nicipalities in the declining areas have come un- der strong pressure to amalgamate, in spite of local resistance. The effect is looming political catharsis in these areas. Concerning infrastruc- ture, the general problem is inefficiency due to oversize capacities, either because of shrinking demand (in declining areas) or high seasonal fluctuation of demand (in growth areas). Finally, ecological modeling shows that the eventual ex- tension of land use would lead to a loss of bio- diversity resulting in a significant change of the landscape. In the conclusion, the implications of these findings for Swiss regional policy are discussed more generally.