Integrated Development of Rural Areas to Increase Their Competitiveness Compared to Urban Areas

Transcription

1 Aplinkos tyrimai, inžinerija ir vadyba, Nr. 3(69), P ISSN (print) Environmental Research, Engineering and Management, No. 3(69), P ISSN (online) Integrated Development of Rural Areas to Increase Their Competitiveness Compared to Urban Areas Rimvydas Gaudėšius National Land Service under the Ministry of Agriculture, Klaipėda, Lithuania (Received in March, 2014; accepted in September, 2014) Urbanization process in the Republic of Lithuania has formed a strong visual, cultural and economic gap between rural and urban areas. The city is identified with the manifold social progress and vitality, while rural areas are pushed into non-progressive public areas and unimportant position. Lithuanian villages face major social and cultural changes and economic difficulties, which result in increasing migration of people to cities and foreign countries. Moreover, significant decline in the young population could be observed in small towns. Therefore, it is necessary to change the attitude of the rural population and to improve the management patterns of public institutions, to revive and to ensure sustainable development of the rural territory. Everyone could self-realize only in a safe and comfortable environment. The right environment in which persons feel safe and are able to realize their potential in activities, can be created by spatial planning. This research paper analyses statistical and geographical information about Klaipėda suburban areas. Intensity of new residential blocks formation and their real needs are also discussed in the paper. Conclusions are drawn concerning the need to change the approach to the formation of new settlements in the area by taking into account the needs of inhabitants, i.e. use of "bottom-up" management approach. Key words: rural areas, land management, sustainable territorial development, strategic planning 1. Introduction The city may be perceived as a huge and constantly operating system, which can be characterised by a number of different processes and interests. Realisation of the economic needs of the city and is expanding its system results in a growing number of participants and growing need for expansion space. Therefore, the urbanization process can be described as a living organism with constant spatial transformations. Urban areas get a lot of attention, but the villages should not be ignored and forgotten. These areas need to be planed by using new methods to provide opportunities for development the competitiveness and attractiveness, and getting cities closer to villages. To achieve this, initiative of the population is required as well as appropriate approach from the side of governing bodies. Many Lithuanian citizens do not know that more than 4/5 of such U.S. cities as Chicago (Chicago, IL) area consists of so called "villages", consisting of individual homestead with spacious courtyards. Cleveland s (Cleveland, OH) suburb Kirtland is a classical countryside area, because of the distances between the neighbouring farmsteads, located on the paved road up to 100 meters, and residential houses built far from the road for ecological reasons (Jasaitis, 2012). When giving the Lithuanian rural vision by Jonas P. Aleksa J to the public, Jasaitis (2011) in research paper argues that the current majority of the Lithuanian citizens have to rethink their relationship with the state, because our society is not sufficiently accustomed to living in a democracy and has little experience of civic participation in the planning of economic and cultural development. The past two decades after regaining independence have been in fact only a transition from totalitarian to democratic governance. For many citizens it is still very difficult to understand their personal responsibility in terms of the fate of the nation and the state. 60

2 Rimvydas Gaudėšius According to J. Jasaitis (2012), implementation Lithuanian contemporary rural development policy led to several negative effects: productivity loss, abandoned land plots growth, unemployment, and the most painful consequences - poverty, crumbling infrastructure in rural areas, rural population remaining in frustration and apathy. In the end of XX century, rural areas in the European Union (hereinafter - EU) countries faced similar difficulties as currently in Lithuania. In 1991, the European Commission published the LEADER initiative, which seeks to involve rural development of rural communities, businesses and local authorities. In 2004, when Lithuania joined the EU, access to EU Structural Funds and Rural Development Funds was opened to meet one of the most important objectives of the EU - the economic and social cohesion along with other Member States in the EU. To absorb these funds Lithuania began to settle in rural communities (Tamošiūnas, 2010). Rural population activity has a major importance. To drive rural area changes in a positive direction, many scientists offer to use the bottom-up approach in management, i.e. starting from villagers to the top management institutions. Rural diversification and the continued revitalization of rural development is largely based on the EU's financial assistance to Lithuania. Therefore, there is a need for new ideas and suggestions on what methods to develop rural areas would be most effective in strengthening their competitiveness. The object of this investigation - the villages in Klaipeda district territory (Klaipėda city suburban area). Research covers analysis of activities and data of the National Land Service under the Ministry of Agriculture (hereinafter - NLS), Klaipėda district and city departments, the Centre of Registers, Lithuanian Department of Statistics as well as analysis of research articles on the topic. Land plots, spatial distribution determination and other graphic representation of data were developed in AutoCAD software. Hypothesis there is too much of new residential plots and they do not meet the real needs. 2. Territorial development The simplest definition that describes the difference between urban and rural urbanization is the density of the urban area of agro-business and abundance of agrarian area. Population could be separated by an intermediate area between the urban and rural areas, where the townspeople find their second homes. Rural residents often do not see any personal freedom (due to the abundance of dense neighbourhood) and limited livelihood opportunities (due to small plots of land). However, these areas are legally divided according to the population density and employment of the population in the relevant sectors of the economy (Lithuanian law, 1994). Existing situation in EU countries a little different, but scientists suggest that the prescribed distribution of rural and urban areas in Lithuania must be improved. A birth or development of any city begins with the absorption of rural land for other activities (non agrarian). At the end of twentieth century, Lithuania was still relatively closed and faced results of the Soviet industrialization practices and so called one company town problem. Moreover, the gap between urban and surrounding areas was large. These cities were fully dependent on a single company or industry and potential for development was only for the companies or industries servicing. This had strong influence on their size, demographic characteristics and land use. W. Sombart in 1907 formulated the concept of setting up the cities functions (the base for the export of capital and revenue based activities) and cities functions (provision of essential services such as cafes, schools, local government, etc.). According to soviet terminology, the terms city organizing and serving the city functions were used (Baubinas, 2005). Suburb as some peripheral zone becomes visible already in primeval towns. Early notable new urban development of social groups and institutions whose activities needed more space resulted in creation of new urban development approaches, because an enclosed urban area was not sufficient. Roman cities were built in the outskirts of grand public buildings (baths, amphitheatre, etc.), Private villas, medieval European monasteries were founded in the suburbs of cities, universities and later have been integrated into the urban system. Roman city was considered to be an essential symbol of civilization. Today's suburb interpretation is inherent in its modern associations and medieval as well as early modern urbanism in Europe (XIII - XVIII) and later European and American urban development (XIX -XX) experiences. In this context, the term is often limited to the value of secondary urban space, which is inhabited by the lower class population, although this approach is not quite correct. For example, the elite public gathering in the city centre could be observed in continental Europe (Paris example). Middle class was the social group, which sought to withdraw from the industrialized metropolitan city (Cirtautas, 2010). Rural area, which is about 97 percent territory of the state, has a special significance for development of the country, including quality of life and public safety. The role of the post-industrial society becomes increasingly important, especially when new information technologies opens up the possibilities for both industrial facilities and service businesses to be located more evenly across the country. In the early twentieth century, rural situation was radically different from the current. At the time, agriculture was the main source of livelihood for more than 80 percent inhabitants. However, the peasants had only about a quarter of the total or about 50 percent of the private land. About 36 percent of private land was owned by landlords while they constituted only 4 percent of the population. Without possibility to acquire the land or find another job, in 61

3 Integrated Development of Rural Areas in Order to Increase Their Competitiveness Compared to Urban Areas , over 600 thousand inhabitants emigrated from Lithuania. Most of them were young people at the working age. In such situation, the restoration of Lithuanian state was confronted by the lack of jobs and food. It was necessary to take urgent changes, which would activate the agrarian sector. The highest expectations were reasonably related to the land assignment for poor (Jasaitis, 2012). It should be stressed that micro farming is still visible in the villages. In these areas people grow vegetables or crops. Therefore, these sites are not only place to stay, but also a source of livelihood. Today, in addition to these sites, locally attractive locations close to urban areas exist and the formation of a new land areas takes place. Increasing number of well-off people is moving to suburban areas. They are looking for a permanent asylum further from the cities or just a second home for vacation. In some places, houses are built with the hope to rent. Rural transformation in suburban areas and their resettlement in the nearby towns are gradually increasing (Figure 1). It could be observed that small-scale settlements become larger and distance to the bigger cities is reduced. Major cities are also expanding and integrated into a single system of smaller settlements. Large city is displayed in the centre of figure and the small villages surround it. Compiled by: author Fig. 1. Different growth systems of city occupying adjacent areas International scientific and socioeconomic research shows that such classical features of the villages will eventually disappear. One of the biggest causes of rural modernization is a result of going towards economic diversification of non-agrarian activities. This corresponds to the so-called urban and built-up external expansion or suburbanization. Due to these changes, it will be increasingly difficult to make a distinction of boundaries between rural, periurban, suburban, and urban areas. Bureaucratically, an area can be separated by fork and dot separation principle, when the village is a settlement with no more than a certain number of people. According to the definition in Lithuania, the city has more than 3 thousand of population and more than 2/3 of inhabitants are employed in industry, business and social infrastructure (Lithuanian law, 1994). Meanwhile, in other countries these numbers are different. For example, Slovakia used 5 thousand limit population; in the Czech Republic - two thousand population threshold (Vidickienė, 2008). Population indicator is often used to define the urban or rural type settlements. This is the oldest and simplest method. In Lithuania, as in many other countries, this indicator is complemented by performance characteristics of the employed population. Rural areas are traditionally considered to be agricultural activity sphere. While examining the attractiveness of rural areas and distribution of them in Lithuanian, D. Vidickienė provided detailed reasons for revising the subclassification of areas. It is emphasized that there is a need to review and modify the quantitative indicators due to population change and employment patterns. 3. The results of research The study area is located in the countryside near the port city of Lithuania (suburban area). From the city of Klaipėda, these settlements are in a distance of 4 km (Ginduliai) and 9 km (Trušeliai) (Fig. 2). These areas have been chosen, because Ginduliai is the most populous (340 inhabitants/ 100 hectares) village in Sendvario neighborhood and Trušeliai has significantly smaller population (50 inhabitants/ 100 hectares) (Gaudėšius 2013). Sendvario neighbourhood, according to the Klaipėda district general plan (Klaipėda region municipality general plan of the territory, 2011), is an urban development area. 62

4 Rimvydas Gaudėšius Fig. 2. A map showing the objects of research Attractiveness of living in a particular area could be described by a number of permanent inhabitants or a number of people choosing this area for recreational purposes. According to the Lithuanian population census of 2011, 791 inhabitants lived in Ginduliai, and 300 inhabitants in Trušeliai (Gaudėšius, 2013). Analysis of the State Enterprise Centre of Registers and NLS data revealed the changes in residential areas and changes in the primary use of the land from agricultural to residential in spatial planning documents (detailed plans) (Figure 3). Name of the village: Ginduliai Source: prepared by the author Fig. 3. Residential land locations (in 2010) From the graphic data, it is clear that the area is heavily influenced by designers and investors. During real estate appreciation in the country, they are trying Name of the village: Trušeliai Source: prepared by the author to design more living areas regardless of the real need for it. Digital orthophoto maps (2010) show the actual built-up land and the territory development (Figure 4). 63

5 Integrated Development of Rural Areas in Order to Increase Their Competitiveness Compared to Urban Areas Name of the village: Ginduliai Source: prepared by the author Fig. 4. Urbanized land plots (in 2010) Name of the village: Trušeliai Source: prepared by the author According to available data collected, we can see how much of land is designed for new settlements, how many of them have already been built, the average area of land, etc. (Table 1). Trušelių village is more than double in terms of the total area in comparison to the Ginduliai. In this area, the newly designed residential plots are also two times larger. However, in terms of building density, compared to the total rural area Ginduliai (22 percent) is significantly higher than Trušeliai (12 percent). Analysis of data shows that the villages are in progress of redesign and change of the purpose of the land in about 38 percent of the territory. A study has substantiated the hypothesis that the land plots which are designed for residential land is now in a large surplus. Taking into account the 2011 Table 1. Data set by digitizing orthophoto maps Village Area (ha) The newly formed residential area of land The newly designed area (ha) Lithuanian census data, it is arguable whether there was a real need to change the use of the land. At the time, 263 families lived in Ginduliai, 100 families - in Trušeliai. Collected data shows that number of residential houses built in Trušeliai is obviously too high, especially in a situation when increasing number of people prefer to buy a home in the city. Investors now are focused on increasing the size of settlements, but are not fully aware of how they are going to accommodate the excess area designed for the residential land. From the scientific point of view, this area should be under continuous monitoring, because such changes in land use may lead to lost economic benefits to the state as well as to destroyed landscape and reduced quality of life of the local population. Actually builtup area (ha) Built-up area of land Ginduliai Trušeliai Compiled by: author The average newly designed residential land area (ha) J. Jasaitis (2012) in his scientific articles concerning rural development underlines another important issue related to limited area of residential land. Previously in Lithuania, the popular land size was 0,15-0,60 hectares, while in the U.S. the size is hectare of residential land. According to the study in Gindulių and Trušelių villages, the current allocation of the new land is quite small (approximately hectares). The average size of previously built-up plots was about hectares. It is difficult to understand for today's private home owners why they are would need 0,50 hectares of land, which requires continuous monitoring at free time after work. However, most of them state that they would like more privacy from the neighbours, because now houses are in a distance of a few meters and between them high blind fences are built. Is it the desire of the designers? Is it the desire of the owners? No! Most probably, this was influenced by the investors who bought the medium-sized agricultural land plot in a hurry and to divide it into as many small allotments as possible, and to sell them at a high value, which magically rises over a couple of months of the bureaucratic procedure. 64

6 Rimvydas Gaudėšius 4. Approach to site management models The results of the research show that the projected area does not meet the real needs. Moreover, the new residential areas are designed in a chaotic way. It could also be stressed that opinion of the local community was ignored. Such a result is a perfect example of wrong exploitation of agricultural lands and rural areas. It could be stressed that application of the land management principles should be based on rational land use and cultural landscape preservation issues. Sustainable spatial distribution can really enhance the competitiveness of the country and the city, while the suburbs can increase attractiveness for both rural and urban residents. Lithuanian residents have to understand that there are two different living systems (village and town), either of which has its own advantages (Figure 5). Source: developed by the author Fig. 5. Rural and urban opportunities provided by the management change using the "bottom up" approach Spatial Planning is this procedure that covers land-use priorities, environmental protection, cultural heritage protection, and specifies conditions to determine the use of land, water and forests as well as residential areas, industry and other infrastructure (Lithuanian law on territory planning, 1995). A number of researchers use bottom-up management approach in their articles exploring the EU's absorption levels by districts for the relevant periods (Šileika, 2011) and the absorption intensity of Lithuanian small and medium-sized business sector (Beržinskienė, 2012). The research shows that to strengthen the competitiveness, there is a need to invest in small and medium-sized businesses. In rural areas, there is a need to create jobs in both traditional agricultural activities and non-traditional activities. Rural areas should be developed for tourism purposes and community activities, which involve young people. In the villages of Republic of Lithuania, different cultural characteristics can be observed and are unlikely to be applied in all regions using completely unified management. It would be appropriate to form settlements in accordance with the prevailing customs of the region. One of the clearest and most acceptable is the classic definition of the region - the particular area that is characterized by certain specific natural, demographic, social, and economic conditions that characterize and distinguish it from adjacent areas (Žalevičienė, 2012). Therefore, there is a need to adjust the strategic document preparation to the findings of the reasearcg studies (T. Sudnickas, 2011; M. Arimavičiūtė,2011). After the collapse of the planned economy and the restoration of Lithuanian independence, for some time, the development of plans was considered obsolete and the part if the Soviet legacy. However, integration processes of Lithuania into NATO and the EU, interest in strategic planning and management began to rise. M. Arimavičiūtė provided a lot of information concerning strategic documents prepared in the EU countries and concluded that use spatial planning approach as well as integrating the economic, social, cultural, environmental, and other areas would be most appropriate in Lithuania. These principles should also be used in the area of land management. In principle, village have become a competitive entrepreneurship, but good feeling should be ensured for both residents and visiting tourists. Preparation of spatial planning documents should involve population living in the area. It should be understood that sustainable management of an agrarian areas is a future of rural area development. 5. Conclusions 1. In suburban areas, mixed land use dominates, ie mixed urban and agri-purpose land use. In general, diversification towards non agrarian activities has been observed. Boundaries between suburban and rural will be increasingly difficult to distinguish over time. 2. Investigated territory in Klaipeda district is approximately 38 percent. The average size of new residential plot in the area is about ha. Trušelių village has 9 percent of newly formed land, while Ginduliai - 24 percent. This study demonstrates irrational spatial planning in rural areas. 3. The proposed spatial planning is intended to satisfy the community needs, while current investor preferences have negative impact on the landscape regardless of the social, economic and environmental criteria. 4. In Trušelių village, one or two industrial production objects dominate. In Ginduliai, mainly residential facilities are located. Therefore, despite of different suburban role, the appropriate infrastructure, attractive public space should be developed to attract the population as 65

7 Integrated Development of Rural Areas in Order to Increase Their Competitiveness Compared to Urban Areas well as investors who establish small businesses. Currently, these areas may absorb EU funds and this opportunity should be effectively utilised. 5. Trušeliai is defaced without any reason. This is an example of a village transformed by investors ignoring the actual needs of the local population. 6. Spatial Planning and Land Management Staff projects are very important to ensure the rational rural development. However, to ensure increase competitiveness of rural residential areas, the state must formulate and implement environmentally, economically and socially motivated public policy. References Aleknavičius P., Gaudėšius R., 2011 Klaipėdos miesto įtaka kaimiškųjų teritorijų žemės naudojimui Darnaus vystymosi strategija ir praktika, 1(5) p.52-63, Arimavičiūtė M., 2011, Strateginio planavimo tobulinimas kaimiškose savivaldybėse, remiantis užsienio šalių patirtimi Ekonomika ir vadyba: aktualijos ir perspektyvos, 4 (24) Atkočiūnienė V., 2012, Integruotų vietos plėtros strategijų atitikimo LEADER metodui vertinimas Ekonomika ir vadyba: aktualijos ir perspektyvos, 34 (27) Atkočiūnienė V., 2008, Kaimo vietovės pokyčių valdymas pagal principą Iš apačios į viršų Ekonomika ir vadyba: aktualijos ir perspektyvos, 2 (11) Atkočiūnienė V., Boculo I., 2011, Lietuvos kaimo vietovių įvaizdžio formavimo valdymas Ekonomika ir vadyba: aktualijos ir perspektyvos, 4 (24) Baubinas R., Krupickaitė D., 2005, Monofunkcinių miestų sampratos problema Geografijos metraštis 38(1) t. Beržinskienė D., Cibulskienė D., 2012, Būdvytytė- Gudienė A. ES struktūrinių fondų paramos įsisavinimo intensyvumas Lietuvos smulkaus ir vidutinio verslo sektoriuje Ekonomika ir vadyba: aktualijos ir perspektyvos. 4 (28) Cirtautas M., 2010, Šiuolaikinė priemiestinės zonos samprata Mokslas- Lietuvos ateitis, K. Šešelgio skaitymai, 2 tomas, Nr. 3. Gaudėšius R., 2013 Landscape architecture features in urban junction of Sendvaris district and Klaipėda city Environmental research, engineering and management,. Nr. 2(64) p Girdžiūtė L., 2012, Agrarinės veiklos rizika ir jos įvertinimas priimant ekonominius sprendimus ūkiuose Ekonomika ir vadyba: aktualijos ir perspektyvos, 3 (27) Gražulis V., Žuromskaitė B., 2011, Lietuvos kaimas: ar turistui pakanka motyvų jį rinktis? Ekonomika ir vadyba: aktualijos ir perspektyvos, 4 (24) Jasaitis J., 2012, Antropologinė strateginio valdymo metodologija Šiaulių universitetas Socialinių mokslų fakultetas Kaimo plėtros tyrimų centras, p.. Jasaitis J., 2011, Kaimo plėtros politikos formavimas, įgyvendinant Jono Prano Aleksos Lietuvos viziją Ekonomika ir vadyba: aktualijos ir perspektyvos, 4 (24) Klaipėdos rajono savivaldybės teritorijos bendrasis planas, patvirtintas Klaipėdos rajono tarybos 2011 m. Vasario 24 d. Sprendimu Nr. T Prieiga per: Žiūrėta: Lietuvos Respublikos teritorijų planavimo įstatymas. Valstybės žinios, 1995, Nr Lietuvos Respublikos teritorijos administracinių vienetų ir jų ribų įstatymas. Valstybės žinios, 1994, Nr Lietuvos Respublikos žemės įstatymas. Valstybės žinios, 2004, Nr Malžinskienė G., 2005, Priemiestinio kraštovaizdžio vertinimo ypatumai Urbanistika ir arcitektūra., XXIX tomas, Nr. 2. Sudnickas T., 2011, Strateginio valdymo problemos Lietuvos savivaldybėse Ekonomika ir vadyba: aktualijos ir perspektyvos, 2 (22) Šileika A., Šimulienė R., 2011, Europos Sąjungos struktūrinių fondų panaudojimo Lietuvos regionuose metais socialinė-ekonominė analizė Ekonomika ir vadyba: aktualijos ir perspektyvos, 1 (21) Tamošiūnas T., Šiaulianskienė E., 2010, Kaimo plėtros strateginis valdymas: Radviliškio rajono vietos veiklos grupės strategijų analizė Ekonomika ir vadyba: aktualijos ir perspektyvos, 3 (19) Vidickienė D., Melnikienė R., 2008, Lietuvos kaimiškųjų regionų kaip gyvenamosios vietos patrauklumo vertinimas Žemės ūkio mokslai, T.15. Nr. 1. P Žalevičienė A., 2012, Regioninė politika ir Europos Sąjungos struktūrinė parama: patirties įvertinimas Ekonomika ir vadyba: aktualijos ir perspektyvos, 2 (26) Rimvydas Gaudėšius Master of Environmental engineering. Chief specialist of National land service under the Ministry of agriculture. Responsible for the state land administration. Main research area: spatial planning, real estate, geographic information technology. Address: National Land Service under the Ministry of Agriculture rimvydas.gaudesius@nzt.lt 66

8 Rimvydas Gaudėšius Kaimiškųjų vietovių integruotas vystymas stiprinant jų konkurencingumą miesto atžvilgiu Rimvydas Gaudėšius Nacionalinė žemės tarnyba prie Žemės ūkio ministerijos, Lietuva (gauta 2014 m. kovo mėn., priimtas spaudai 2014 m. rugsėjo mėn.) Lietuvos Respublikoje vykstantys urbanizacijos procesai suformavo gana ryškų vizualinį, kultūrinį ir ekonominį atotrūkį tarp kaimo ir miesto teritorijų. Miestas yra tapatinamas su visokeriopa socialine pažanga ir gyvybingumu, o kaimiškosios teritorijos yra nustumiamos į nepažangios visuomenės ir nereikalingos teritorijos poziciją. Lietuvos kaimai susiduria su esminiais socialiniais ir kultūriniais pokyčiais bei ekonominiais sunkumais, dėl kurių didėja žmonių migracija į miestus ir užsienio šalis, taip pat ženkliai mažėja jaunų gyventojų skaičius mažose gyvenvietėse. Todėl būtina keisti požiūrį į kaimo gyventojus ir tobulinti valstybinių institucijų valdymo modelius, kad būtų atgaivintos ir darniai plėtojamos šios teritorijos. Kiekvienas žmogus visiškai save realizuoti gali tik tada, kai yra jam palankioje aplinkoje. Sukurti tinkamą aplinką, kurioje žmogus jaustųsi saugiai ir galėtų save realizuoti jam patinkančioje veikloje galima tinkamai išnaudojant ir teritorijų planavimą. Moksliniame straipsnyje analizuojami statistiniai ir geografiniai duomenys apie Klaipėdos priemiesčio teritorijas. Nustatytas naujų gyvenamųjų kvartalų formavimosi intensyvumas, bei jų realus poreikis, daromos išvados apie būtinimą keisti požiūrį į naujų gyvenviečių formavimą atsižvelgiant į atitinkamoje teritorijoje gyvenančių žmonių poreikus, t.y. valdymo principo iš apačios į viršų būtinumas. 67