An analysis of municipal planning and alignment of the administration in the process of creating the aspiring Odsherred Geopark (Denmark)

Henrik Vejre (*), Nina Lemkow (**), Lone S. Kristensen (*) & Jørgen Primdahl (*)
(*) Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 23 1958 Frederiksberg C, Denmark. E-mail@life.ku.dk (**) Odsherred Municipality, Nyvej 22 4573 Højby, Denmark. E-mail: nle@odsherred.dk

In 2010 Odsherred Municipality decided to initiate a process that eventually should lead to the establishment of a new member of the European Geoparks Network. During the entire process scientists from the University of Copenhagen (UC) has followed the process. The involvement of scientists had two major aims. Firstly to study the process of formulation of the part of Municipal plan that deals with landscape and natural resources in a phase where this responsibility of these issues were delegated from the regional level to the municipal level after a comprehensive planning reform in Denmark. Secondly to test a number of methods that enhances communicative processes in local and planning in an actions-research design. Scientists from UC has followed the planning process and guided events that was staged to create dialogue within sectors of the municipal administration and between the municipality and key stakeholders. The Municipality has been successful in aligning projects and strategies in the administration in order to fix the target of all sectors towards the Geopark project. The administration has been successful in committing the politicians of the municipal council and the Mayor to the Geopark, and there has been a significant involvement of key local stakeholders, including the tourism board, key business executives and the state forest district. Central obstacles have been overcome, among others the widespread confusion as to the park concept in the administration and in the public, short term budgets and general lack of funds. The transdisciplinary workshops and participation in conferences have significantly improved internal communication and general skills among staff members in the municipality. Conclusively, the process of creating a Geopark has proven a viable strategy for complying with the requirements for a comprehensive, inter-disciplinary spatial plan for the open countryside in Odsherred Municipality.

Aspiring Odsherred Geopark, Denmark, participatory planning, spatial planning