aDaptation strategies to spatial planning anD regional Development

11 Transnational strategies to cope
with demographic change
in the Alpine area
Roadmaps for spatial planning
and regional development
• Emanuel Valentin
• Hans Karl Wytrzens
• Oswin Maurer
Free University
of Bozen-Bolzano
Roadmaps are used for the development of strategies and the planning
of long-term policies. They are based on detailed analysis and include the
development of guidelines in combination with short, medium and longterm
measures in order to reach pre-established objectives. Concrete
roadmaps show how spatial planning and regional development can react
strategically to demographic change.
Aim of the DEMOCHANGE roadmaps
The Roadmaps, as an instrument for the provision of the future, show
how the challenges of population change may be faced at regional level.
They are suitable as regional guidelines by enabling various zones to:
identify their starting position in respect to demographic change
define objectives and priorities for coping with demographic change in
spatial planning and regional development
find ways (measures and sets of measures) in order to react adequately
with spatial planning and regional development to demographic change
Figure 1
Structure of roadmaps’
development process
Strategy development
Determine the demographic status quo of a region
Roadmaps help the user to find their way based on the identification of one’s
own starting point and these roadmaps describe the steps how to identify
any given demographic situation. Furthermore they allow for the comparison
of a region with the area of the Alpine Space. A complex Alpine typology
of regions serves for classification of single regions (on the basis of a cluster
analysis). This is oriented on indicators like population density, population
development, net migration and share of different age groups. The main
types of Alpine regions have been identified (Figure 2 and infobox):
Typology of regions
Urban areas: Urban influenced spaces dominated by medium-sized cities or suburban areas and densely populated large
valley areas as well. Rather high population density. Higher share of people in working age (15-65 years), share of older
residents (above 65 years) clearly below the average. Average population growth caused through a slightly natural growth
and inmigration.
Dynamic city and rural: Larger NUTS 3 units with a rather high total population, but usually only one large centre surrounded
by sparsely populated rural areas. Significant population growth driven by very high in-migration and positive natural
population growth.
Ageing areas: Average densely populated regions usually away from the major metropolitan areas or in the transition areas
to the mountain region. Significant ageing of the population due to marked negative natural population growth with a low proportion
of under 15- and 15-65-year-olds and high in-migration of older people; overall slight increase in population. Migration
balance and age group shares gives some evidence for brain-drain effects.
Rural areas with out-migration in parts: Sparsely populated NUTS 3 regions of smaller size (clearly below average);
slightly negative natural population growth and low (up to negative) in-migration result in population stagnation or decline and
partly out-migration.
Rural growing areas: Overall large population in large but less densely populated regions with a high share of under 15 year
olds and significantly positive natural population growth, as well as in-migration and total population development.