Nature tourism is a key economic opportunity for communities in remote and sparsely populated areas. Yet the processes of nature conservation which often accompany tourism development end up excluding and marginalizing many such communities. This project studies the complex practices and processes of nature tourism and sustainability conservation across remote areas of Finland, Estonia, Russia, Germany and Italy. Using ethnographic and historical research methods combined with immersive Extended Reality (XR) video and audio, we will study remote landscapes which are currently experiencing particular local conflicts (e.g. resource extraction, rewilding) as a means of understanding critical issues of sustainability, conservation and community belonging. The project will result in a collaborative film, book, articles and EU-level policy briefs that set out recommendations for sustainable tourism and conservation practice and planning in remote areas of Europe and further afield.

2021

2023