Application of Swedish EcoMunicipalities Approach in Chile: Lessons from the Province of Arauco

Abstract

This article describes the adaptation of the Swedish Eco-municipalities to the Chilean institutional context and its application in three emerging tourism destinations in the Arauco Province of Arauco. Due to the limited attributions and resources of Chilean municipalities, the Chilean Eco-municipalities need to implement strategies with public and private actors and establish territorial governance. The Swedish approach provides a three-phase implementation strategy that involves learning, planning and actions. In the Arauco Province, field work included a deliberative process that highlighted the importance of reflecting on the distinct interests as well as different cognitive frameworks with respect to development and sustainability. In this way, public and private actors collaboratively identified the principal problems and proposed shared solutions. Our principal conclusion is that the Eco-municipalities approach in strategic planning for local sustainable development in Chile should consider existing institutional mechanisms and be based in territorial governance.