Enhancing territorial development based on biocultural identity. A capacity building approach

The adoption of new territorial approaches based on biocultural identity is increasingly valued for the activation and enhancement of processes of inclusive and sustainable rural development. These processes are often hindered by the presence of conflicts, rather than collective action and collaboration among stakeholders, at different institutional levels. This negatively affects the preservation and sustainable valorization of local biocultural heritage towards a synergic integration and balanced satisfaction of the interests at stake. Consequently, capacity building is increasingly taken into consideration by both researchers and policy makers to respond to an emerging need of territorial dynamization, requiring the mobilization of local actors, as well as enhanced decision-making and action-taking powers. Our paper aims to provide a systemic comprehension and enhancement of territorial development paths based on biocultural identity and to foster their enhancement through the adoption of a capacity building approach. A novel holistic conceptual model is designed and operationalized supporting the analysis of the key processes of biocultural heritage valorization for rural territorial development. A participatory action-research (PAR) approach was developed in eight territories, in both Europe and Latin America, illustrative of biocultural heritage valorization dynamics. The latter represented case studies and worked as laboratories for the model application. The paper presents the case of the Garfagnana territory, an inner mountain area of the Tuscany Region (Italy), which stands out for its capacity to comprehensively illustrate the applicability of the conceptual model and its expected results as a typical case study. The findings prove the model to be supportive in the identification of the virtuous aspects, criticalities, and needs for improvement that characterize processes of biocultural heritage valorization for rural territorial development, the detection of related dynamization needs, and a shared demand for capacity building, which made it possible to highlight and describe a new interdisciplinary profile of territorial enhancer (TE). The results support the adaption of education and training to align with territorial specificities and the valorization of the local diversity of resources and knowledge. As an outcome, we expect to foster processes of both educational transformation and social innovation through empowerment, thus generating concrete change in rural territories and communities, aiming at a long-lasting impact on social wellbeing, sustainability, and cohesion.