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The new culture of territory
The search for improved quality of life has changed the urban landscape and the very meaning of the “city” concept. The extension of the traditional city into the regional peripheral space has actually resulted in the creation of “city-regions”, new urban areas which bring new opportunities for people but also more demands for new services and funding.
 Thus, new challenges arise, complex relationships between cities and territories, new development strategies and a variety of links between local and regional environments. Traditional management policies and tools are less effective in our current scenario. Facing new economic, social or environmental challenges, new claims for a better quality of life or the promotion of social welfare, all this brings a significant number of organisations to stimulate society toward a new culture of territory.
It is therefore essential that each and every social player be involved to attain a balanced, well-planned and future-oriented urban development. It is thus inescapable to create a joint effort among public institutions, the private sector, universities, professionals, social organisations and the public.
The II International Forum on Urban Planning in Small- and Medium-sized City-Regions ‘Territorios 21’ will provide the necessary meeting point for all major urban players who wish to build and reach a consensus on the future of our territories, and set the bases to face up to the challenges of small- and medium-sized city-regions.
 Territorios 21 will foster the analysis of the situation by urban policy-makers and urban planners, active professionals and businesses, looking toward a balanced territorial development and the dissemination of those initiatives among the public.
Territorios 21 aims to achieve communication and interactions among the Forum’s target audience to work for the sector’s benefit. More specifically, it aims to be a setting to meet and discuss:
- National, regional and municipal administration
- Political area
- Technical area
- Professional and academic fields
- Architects and urban planners
- Consultants
- Specialists in urban planning in general
- Business field
- Building and planning companies
- Engineering fields
- Companies related to urban planning
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INTRODUCTION
