Partnerships and co-governance for sustainable coastal recreation and public health promotion: public and civil society innovations

This article aims to contribute novel knowledge on the potential of landscape innovations co-produced by public and civil actors to promote inclusive recreation and public health in coastal and marine areas under urban and environmental pressures. The theoretical framing aligns with multidisciplinary research that suggests evidence of how contact with natural landscapes may promote human well-being. The article emerges from a qualitative mapping that comprises document analysis, semi-structured interviews, and field observations of measures that facilitate the mitigation of barriers and promote public access rights in Norwegian Oslo Fjord (2022—2023). It was part of a comprehensive mixed-methods investigation on public commission, anchored in a government action plan (2021) aimed at restoring the fjord's environmental health and strengthening outdoor recreation. The article examines the relationships between public policy, co-governance arrangements, and the role of civil society in implementing measures to promote public health in the coastal zone and the fjord.