engleski

Historic Land-Use Evolution of a Small Island – Case Study of Žirajsko Polje on Žirje Island, Croatia

During last century and half Croatian islands’ landscape was drastically transformed due to intensive socio-economic changes. At the turn and in the first half of the 20th century crisis in vineyard cultivation and wine production caused significant land-use changes of the fertile areas on islands which reflected on the islands’ landscapes. Migration to mainland and transition from primary to secondary and tertiary economic activities during second half of the 20th century resulted in intensive land abandonment. Žirje is small island situated within Šibenik archipelago with one settlement (103 inhabitants according to 2011 Census). During the history its inhabitants heavily depended on natural resources. They were mostly involved in fishery, cattle breeding and vineyard cultivation. Vineyards were mostly situated in Žirajsko polje, the central and most fertile islands’ zone. After big crisis in vineyard cultivation took place in the late 19th century, drastic changes occurred in that zone. It was transformed to partly cultivated and then afterwards to mostly abandoned agricultural area. Land-use changes of Žirajsko polje at the cadastral level from the middle 19th century up to nowadays were analysed in the paper. Historical analysis included the use of archival and contemporary data from the national cadastral office.

Žirje Island, Žirajsko polje, land-use changes, historical analysis

nije evidentirano