Deregulating 'the rural'; threatening land management regime. Experiences of space in the Tuscan countryside

TL;DR

This study investigates how landownership and land use in Tuscany are changing, revealing a trend of decoupling from farming and liberalization of rural space, which challenges traditional land management systems.

Contribution

It provides empirical insights into landowner behaviors and typologies, highlighting the impact of liberalization and urbanization on rural land use in Tuscany.

Findings

Decoupling from farming activities is widespread.

Changing land use reflects liberalization trends.

Rural land management faces significant restructuring challenges.

Abstract

In this research the relationships between landownership and the use of rural land are investigated and analyzed through an empirical study, conducted in Tuscany, which was based on interviews with landowners. Through the development of farmers' typologies, the results highlight a general process of decoupling from farming, which appears through 'disinvestments' in farming activity and changing the intended uses of rural land and buildings. The dynamic of liberalization (and urbanization) of rural space arises challenges to the future of land management system, which seems to be going to suffer a process of restructuring.