Underground4value: convirtiendo el patrimonio minero en fuente de valor comunitaria

The chapter introduces how mining landscape perspective changed from an unattractive feature to a cultural landscape, a place of the memory that can play an active role for local communities' heritage and become a touristic destination. Although several success stories, the transition from abandoned mines into touristic attractions follows complex dynamics, which greatly benefit from community engagement and integrated planning. In this sense, the case of La Unión is very appealing and paradigmatic, characterised by successful initiatives that contributed to implement the overall reputation of the area, but not to support a community transition to different cultural and socio-economic models. Noticeably, new models are required, for engaging the local community and attracting competences and skills from outside, revitalising local narratives, and creating new meanings. That is one of the challenges of the COST Action Underground4value (U4V) that, with the University of Murcia's support, chose La Unión as one of its case-studies, by promoting there a living lab approach. This process is just started and demands for more time for engaging the local community and overcoming significant knowledge and cultural gaps, which hinder its effective participation to planning processes.