The rural world has the capacity to lead ecosocial transformation, according to a report.
Rural communities are emerging as key players in ecosocial transformation, demonstrating their ability to lead profound and sustainable changes. In the face of current challenges, rural areas are not only resisting but also generating new dynamics that balance social justice with environmental sustainability.
This is the conclusion of the report Ecosocial Transformation in Rural Areas, led by Paula Ugarte-Lucas, a researcher at ICTA-UAB, which emphasises the urgency of rethinking rural development from a more just perspective, adapted to local realities.
Rural areas face significant challenges that threaten their long-term viability, including depopulation, climate change, agro-industrial globalisation, and biodiversity loss. These problems particularly affect the most vulnerable groups, such as unemployed youth, migrants, women, and the elderly, generating inequalities and social, economic, and cultural conflicts. Considering this reality, the report highlights the urgency of adopting new strategies and alternatives to the traditional development model, promoting approaches that prioritise both social justice and environmental sustainability, over economic growth.
The document highlights the need for public policies to incorporate a perspective that is more adapted to rural realities, promoting the "ruralisation" of policies and adjusting them to the specific needs of these areas. It also stresses the importance of questioning the dominant economic paradigm and fostering a model based on the local economy, sustainability, and environmental respect. In this regard, the report advocates for regenerating the productive and social fabric with criteria of equity and sustainability.
Another key aspect highlighted in the report is the need to promote social justice and feminism as essential tools to guarantee inclusion and equal opportunities. Recognising the role of historically marginalised groups, such as women and migrants, is crucial to revitalising the rural world and building more equitable societies. The report also emphasises the importance of land stewardship strategies that involve local actors in the conservation of natural and cultural heritage, thereby strengthening the bond between rural communities and their territories.
Regarding governance, the report emphasises the relevance of a collective and decentralised model that allows rural communities to actively participate in decision-making processes. It also highlights the need to establish a more balanced relationship between rural and urban areas, overcoming the urban-centric view and fostering reciprocity between both environments. Finally, the report underscores the importance of strengthening and making visible the role of Local Action Groups, which are fundamental to driving these transformation processes and ensuring their long-term sustainability.
The report concludes with a roadmap that outlines the path to a necessary, possible, and desirable rural transformation, proposing concrete measures to promote a more equitable and sustainable future in these areas. Its findings have the potential to contribute significantly to the design of more just public policies, adapted to the needs of rural communities, ensuring their viability and development in the current context.
This report is the result of work carried out as part of the SUSTAIN (Leading Sustainability Transitions in Rural Spain) research project, part of the Rural Collectives Lab research group of ICTA-UAB. This work has been funded by the María de Maeztu Unit of Excellence of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.
Ugarte-Lucas, P., Sanjuan Agudelo, L. M., Villamayor-Tomas, S., Pérez-Sánchez, C., & Navarro Álvarez, A. (2024). Transformación ecosocial en territorios rurales. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14216763