Methodological and applied bases of territorial planning (as exemplified by elaboration of the program of sustainable development for rural territories)

Abstract

Rural development programs in strategic planning determine the direction of sustainable development, taking into account socio-economic and environmental factors. “The Concept of Sustainable Development of Rural Territories of the Russian Federation for the Period Until 2020” is an important document that defines the development of rural territories in Russia, approved in 2010. The implementation of the Concept is associated with the development of regional programs for the sustainable development of rural territories. Scientific and methodological support of sustainable rural development programs is an important aspect in developing programs at the regional and municipal levels. Whereas developing a regional program for the sustainable development of rural territories, the following sequence of steps is followed: the organizational stage, when third-party organizations are involved in research; the analytical stage, including the development of a program for sustainable development of rural territories and its scientific and methodological support; then coordination and approval of the program. This paper considers two research projects, which the authors participated in 2009-2011. The first project on sustainable development of rural territories was realized in the Altai Territory. The second project on sustainable development of rural areas was realized in the Tambov oblast in the framework of the Russian-French project.