Landscape co-management practices and power structures at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Wachau, Austria

A study on the UNESCO World Heritage site of Wachau, Austria, reveals that while co-management involving civil society, market forces, and authorities can drive cultural sustainability, it also risks reinforcing existing power structures. The research finds that active citizenship contributes significantly to landscape sustainability, yet new governance platforms often mirror old power dynamics, limiting their potential for transformative change. Pluralistic perspectives and tensions, though beneficial, struggle to disrupt entrenched power constellations.

Gugerell, K., Penker, M., & Kieninger, P. (2018). Landscape co-management practices and power structures at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Wachau, Austria. Cultural Sustainability and the Nature–Culture Interface, 109–124. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315625294-8