Los desafíos de la gestión del patrimonio rural singular en las áreas rurales y su relación con la despoblación. Resultados del proyecto Interreg Europe MoMAR (Models of Management for Singular Rural Heritage)

Between 2019 and 2023, the Provincial Council of Zaragoza led the Interreg Europe project MoMAr (Models of Management for Singular Rural Heritage), which aimed to develop a strategic, place-based approach to managing cultural and natural resources in rural European regions. Rather than replicating external development models, MoMAr promoted adaptive governance frameworks rooted in local identity, multi-actor collaboration, and territorial sustainability, while addressing structural challenges such as depopulation, demographic ageing, and the underuse of local heritage assets. The article provides a critical assessment of the project’s results and of the policy-oriented logic of Interreg Europe, whereby interregional learning and the exchange of good (and “challenging”) practices are expected to translate into concrete policy improvements and new funding mechanisms. The findings are illustrated through outcomes across five partner territories -Zaragoza (Spain), Mehedinți (Romania), South Bohemia (Czech Republic), Groningen (Netherlands), and Saxony-Anhalt (Germany) -including action plans focused on heritage-driven local development, digitalization and interpretation tools, education and professional training, and long-term financing strategies. The analysis highlights both achievements and persistent weaknesses: strong reliance on small municipalities, difficulties in securing sustainable funding beyond public support, uneven community involvement, limited attention to intangible heritage, and significant differences in governance capacity and long-term planning across national contexts. Overall, the paper argues that while MOMAr demonstrates the potential of rural heritage as a vector for sustainable development, effective implementation requires stronger long-term policy instruments, inclusive technological adoption, and greater integration of local communities to ensure heritage remains culturally grounded while contributing to territorial resilience.