Research projects

The StadtLand-Plus project "ReGerecht" aims to find and implement solutions for balanced development and a fair resolution of interests among cities, urban outskirts, and rural regions. The project primarily focuses on issues related to land use claims and associated resources. On one hand, land is needed for settlements and business developments, and on the other, for agriculture and recreation. ReGerecht concentrates on developing solutions to reduce conflicts among urban areas, suburbs, and rural regions, while establishing new approaches for balancing different interests.

The central focus of the project is on how to create a fair balance of interests concerning various land use demands and the related resources. Among the selected land-based claims are residential and commercial development, renewable energy with a focus on wind power, digital infrastructure, and ecosystem services. ReGerecht investigates how these different demands can be harmonized. This involves analyzing the causes of land use conflicts, developing solution options based on the core criterion of justice, and designing practical solutions. The results are targeted at local and regional policymakers, state and federal governments, businesses, and non-governmental organizations.

The ReGerecht project has been conducted since 2018 at the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), where extensive empirical studies were carried out in the Schwerin region and other transfer areas. A cooperative agreement for the city-outskirts area was established in collaboration with the city of Schwerin and the West Mecklenburg Office for Spatial Planning and Land Management. Within an additional project year, by the end of 2024, the existing project results will be deepened and expanded in four work packages: Empirical Justice Research, Land Use Conflicts, Energy Justice, and Digital Participation.

For further information, visit: https://www.zukunftsstadt-stadtlandplus.de/regerecht.html and https://regerecht.de/.