Country Focus

Follow along as MARGISTAR’s Prof Theo Lynn (Dublin City University) discusses his journey of an individual residency at Faberlull Andorra. From its mountainous terrain to its bustling tourism economy, Andorra offers a captivating study in digitalisation. Armed with insights from local stakeholders and a dataset of over 7,000 websites, Theo takes a closer look at the complexities of the country’s online presence. Amidst challenges like e-commerce dynamics and talent acquisition, Andorra's digital narrative took shape. Read on for Theo’s experience in uncovering Andorra's digital landscape.

Andorra's model, characterised by high levels of tourism, a highly attractive tax regime, and sustainable land and environmental management within a stable political framework, while desirable, would be complex to replicate. Any such strategy would need to consider the specific geographic location and topology of a given region as well as local nuances and context, not least the political, economic, socio-cultural, technological, legal, and environmental factors discussed above. It would require an unprecedented political will and unity to commit to a multi-government project over several decades. What might that roadmap look like?

Albania is known for its diverse landscapes that collectively contribute to the country’s natural beauty, biodiversity, and cultural heritage. Albania’s mountains in particular present excellent opportunities for sustainable rural tourism and ecological conservation, but also pose challenges to local communities. This blog provides a comprehensive overview of the marginalised mountain ranges of Albania and dives into the diverse set of social, economic, and ecological challenges they face. We also introduce promising emerging solutions ranging from sustainable tourism initiatives that bring about economic opportunities, to infrastructure improvements and agricultural revitalisation initiatives that support niche agricultural products.

MARGISTAR has been out and about this autumn. Shortly after a first in-person meeting with Working Group 2 in Türkiye, Working Group 1 members met in Albania this October. Read on for a short overview of our COST Action meeting, along with a glimpse of the Albanian peaks and valleys we were lucky to visit.

Dr Laura Boffi is an interaction design researcher and practitioner with a background in product design. She just completed a one-year research fellowship at the Università Ca' Foscari Venezia in Italy. In this blog, Laura delves into a participatory project focused on biodiversity conservation and local agropastoral traditions, which was inspired by her conversations with a local shepherd in Abruzzo, Italy.

In September 2023, MARGISTAR Working Group 2 (WG2) members travelled to Düzce city in Türkiye. Read on for a brief summary of this COST Action meeting and the experiences we had, including our field trip to Efteni Lake, Güzeldere Waterfall Nature Park, and the Kardüz Upland.