Enhancing the Territorial Heritage of Declining Rural Areas in Spain: Towards Integrating Top-Down and Bottom-Up Approaches

A study highlights the importance of integrating top-down institutional initiatives with bottom-up community participation to revitalize declining rural areas, using Almadén Mining Park and Molina-Alto Tajo District Geopark—both UNESCO World Heritage Sites—as case studies. The research demonstrates that collaborative governance between these approaches can minimize depopulation and territorial dislocation while leveraging synergies in local resources to ensure initiative viability and enhance visitor experiences. This dual approach, supported by rural development programs, offers a model for sustainable territorial revival.

Ruiz Pulpón, Á. R., & Cañizares Ruiz, M. d. C. (2020). Enhancing the Territorial Heritage of Declining Rural Areas in Spain: Towards Integrating Top-Down and Bottom-Up Approaches. Land, 9(7), 216. https://doi.org/10.3390/land9070216