Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.5559/di.20.4.12

RURAL AREA TRANSFORMATION: FROM CROPLAND TO MINE FIELDS – ZEMUNIK DONJI MUNICIPALITY (CROATIA) CASE STUDY

Željka ŠILJKOVIĆ orcid.org/0000-0001-6583-7125 ; University of Zadar, Zadar
Anica ČUKA orcid.org/0000-0002-4227-2763 ; University of Zadar, Zadar
Ana PEJDO orcid.org/0000-0003-4007-1359 ; University of Zadar, Zadar

Abstract

This paper analyses socio-economic and land use changes
in the Zemunik Donji Municipality of the Republic of
Croatia during the 19th and 20th centuries. It also provides
an overview of the current suspected landmine areas and
civilian casualties in this region and the influence of
landmines on population numbers. The Zemunik Donji
Municipality is an integral part of Ravni kotari, one
of the most important agricultural regions in Coastal
Croatia. Throughout history, people living in this region
were mostly engaged in agriculture (both cropping and
pastoral activities), through which they achieved prosperity.
In spite of extensive processes of depopulation and
abandonment of cultivated land during the second
half of the 20th century in this and other parts of Coastal
Croatia, the landscape of the Zemunik area has retained
the characteristics of an agricultural region. As a result
of the recent Croatian War of Independence, considerable
change has occurred within the Municipality with
abandonment of agricultural land, and fertile fields
becoming landmine fields to pose a major obstacle to
economic activity.

Keywords

Zemunik Donji Municipality; land use; landmine fields

Hrčak ID:

75869

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/75869

Publication date:

31.12.2011.

Article data in other languages: croatian german

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