This paper addresses current changes in the highly diverse European
landscape, and the way these transitions are being treated in policy and
landscape management in the fragmented, heterogeneous and dynamic
context of today’s Europe. It appears that intersecting driving forces are
increasing the complexity of European landscapes and causing polarising
developments in agricultural land use, biodiversity conservation and cultural
landscape management. On the one hand, multifunctional rural landscapes,
especially in peri-urban regions, provide services and functions that serve
the citizens in their demand for identity, support their sense of belonging
and offer opportunities for recreation and involvement in practical landscape
management. On the other hand, industrial agricultural production on
increasingly large farms produces food, feed, fibre and energy to serve
expanding international markets with rural liveability and accessibility as
a minor issue. The intermediate areas of traditionally dominant small and
family farms in Europe seem to be gradually declining in profitability. The
paper discusses the potential of a governance approach that can cope with
the requirement of optimising land-sharing conditions and communitybased
landscape development, while adapting to global market conditions