Promoting the economy while protecting nature? The UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Mont Viso as a model region for economically sustainable development in the Cottian Alps

Many peripherally located Alpine regions have faced decades of depopulation and infrastructure decline. In response, protected areas (PAs) such as biosphere reserves and regional nature parks are increasingly seen as instruments to integrate nature conservation and regional development. Yet public acceptance remains limited due to concerns over potential economic restrictions. This study analyses the structural conditions shaping the actions of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Mont Viso in the Cottian Alps, framing PAs as strategic corporate actors by triangulating structura-tion theory and actor-centred institutionalism. It conceptualizes territorial agency as the capacity of PAs to initiate and sustain structural transformation. Findings show that such an agency critically depends on access to legal authority and financial resources.