Sustainable rural development: the role of community involvement and local partnerships

Integrated sustainable rural development requires the conservation and enhancement of 'human and social capital' as well as 'environmental capital.' Community involvement at the local level and developing local partnerships of relevant actors and agencies are both important, and the challenges of each are discussed. A key issue is whether 'local partnerships,' as compared with individual agencies acting alone, genuinely add value to the local development process. Cross-national research, appraising experience in six European Union member states concludes 'yes, if...'. The E.U.'s LEADER programme has been a major attempt to promote locally focused rural development based on the principles of partnership and community involvement.