The project stimulates economic development of rural areas based on the environmental distinctiveness of the regions. Main method is the use of a ?virtuous spiral? concept, which uses four activity areas (new tourism offers, marketing and sales, maximizing special regional qualities and linking environmental and economic activity) to promote environment based economic activity.

The project seeks to investigate how the waterway network in the North Sea region can be developed and promoted further. Activities include promoting tourism linkages, developing the inland waterway network and developing the relationship between the waterways and their surroundings (local communities and businesses, natural and cultural heritage). The project should lead to improvements in the viability and use of the waterways and in tourism and economic development along the waterways.

The aim of the project is to establish the North Sea Cycling Route (NSCR) as a permanent entity within a secure organisational structure, offering a high-quality cycling experience and an insight into the natural and cultural heritage of the North Sea Region. In order to achieve this aim, project activities target in part assessments of the economic impact of the route and its weaknesses and in addition raising awareness and disseminating information and knowledge. Simultaneously, the idea is to initiate pilot projects with some of the partners, which would lead to implementation of low cost physical improvements along the route and secure a high-quality product for the cycling tourist. Long-term partner motivation and commitment is important for the project.

The project will identify new ways to manage and improve rural landscapes. It consists of a number of pilots addressing enhanced ecological value and preserved regional and cultural identity. Working with farmers and other stakeholders, this should still ensure sufficient economic opportunities for farmers.

The project is a continuation of the IIC LANCEWAD project. The main aim is to enhance the cooperation with relevant governmental and non-governmental organisations in order to secure the development, management and sustainable use of the cultural heritage in the Wadden Sea Region (WSR). The final output will be a draft Integrated Landscape and Cultural Heritage Management and Development Plan containing a management strategy for cultural heritage, cultural landscape plans, sectoral and theme strategies and an action plan.

The project addresses the issue of sustainable development of national parks through implementing environmental technologies in order to reduce pressures created by high traffic volumes. It implements information and communication technologies for site development and therefore encourages sustainable forms of tourism both to and within the park areas. The planned improvements target the conservation of the natural assets of the protected areas in the most economically viable way.

A project working with promoting sustainable cultural tourism through regenerating a number of walking trails along the North Sea coast. Activities include development of the information, services and infrastructure required for promoting the trail. The ultimate aim is develop a walking trail all along the North Sea coast.

The project aims at defining and enhancing seafaring heritage by examples of historic ships and sites as a cultural vantage point for a more preserving spatial development. Local public-private partnership co-operations are to support some of the sites; an increase of tourism and a methodology for better integration of cultural heritage into spatial (urban) planning are also envisaged.

The focus of the project is on stimulating positive development of rural areas. In order to achieve this, three themes are identified, which development or deterioration are mutually interconnected and have a major influence on the out migration trends in the area. These are: social/health services, transport services, and economic development. The project aims to work out solutions for the rural areas for the negative trends in the rural areas, through e.g. improving the level of social services offered, providing a better coordination of public transport, and securing/inspiring activities in rural areas.