Regional Development Research Group | ZHAW Institute of Natural Resource Sciences IUNR

Picture of a bridge near Altenburg in the Nature Park Schaffhausen. Picture: Renato Bagattini — Bridge near Altenburg in the Schaffhausen Nature Park. Picture: Renato Bagattini

Picture of the village Altdorf (Schaffhausen) in the Nature Park Schaffhausen — Altdorf (Schaffhausen) in the Schaffhausen Nature Park. Picture: Bianca Haselbeck

Picture of a corporate volunteering day in a Swiss Nature Park — Corporate Volunteering in a Swiss Nature Park. Picture: Aline Oertli

The role of the ZHAW Regional Development Research Group is to facilitate and support processes and projects in rural areas, both nationally and internationally. Our approach focuses on the needs of local stakeholders, and our activities and expertise harness regional potential in terms of nature, the environment, agriculture, culture and customs. Research in the field of cultural landscapes is a principal focus for the group.

Research interests

Searching for potential future-proof developments
Initiating and supporting activation processes and attitude change in rural areas
Implementing cooperative processes with local stakeholders and impact-oriented management
Landscape analysis and assessment
Sustainable landscape planning, and regional and green space development

Our competencies

Consultancy services for municipalities, regions and stakeholder Groups
Supporting concept development, planning and implementation of regional Projects
Developing and testing instruments and concepts for inclusive regional development processes
Participatory approaches to cross-sector landscape and regional development
Combining sustainable landscape and regional development with local promotional and planning activities
Project management mandates and management of research and development projects