engleski

Geographic Distribution and Restoration Dynamics of Landmine Fields in Croatia

Almost 15 years after the Croatian War of Independence, more than 2% of Croatian territory is still polluted with landmines. Most of them are placed in rural areas or on former agricultural land. Intensive process of demining started in 1998 and within ten years the area of 247 sq. km was returned to the community. Some villages that were abandoned during the war are still unpopulated, because the land is unavailable for economic valorization. Even the areas that were successfully cleaned of landmines and other explosive devices often remain abandoned and unused. The reason for such circumstances can be found in intensive process of depopulation which has affected rural areas since the 1960s. Besides geographic distribution and demining dynamics, the paper also analyzes possibilities and strategy for future economic and demographic revitalization of areas polluted with landmines.

landmines; demining; Croatia; war; rural areas; depopulation

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