Rewitalizacja obszarów i układów ruralistycznych – chorwackie doświadczenia

With its area and population, Croatia is a midsize and sparsely populated - country. According to the statistics, it is a country of scattered small settlements whose spatial organization, number, size, shape, as well as structure are region-specific. Traditionally, Croatia was an underdeveloped agricultural country. Abrupt industrialization-based economic development after the WWII had an adverse effect on the development of rural economy. Accelerated growth of towns was the reason for intensified demographical, social and economic decline of the villages. Over the years, large areas in some regions, far away from the economic centers and market places, especially islands and highlands, have been depopulated. In spite of this, efficient revitalization measures for these deserted and neglected territories were not applied through government strategy, and therefore they were not applied in professional practice either. The situation was aggravated by the last war, when the war-inflicted areas, and especially the villages, were deserted. After the war few inhabitants are returning to their family homes and this situation has left deep traces in the landscape. Cultivable land, vineyards and orchards overgrown with weed are turning into wild country, and buildings are falling into ruins. The situation is best illustrated by comparing the latest statistics with the older ones, for an example from the 1960s, when almost half of Croatia's population (43,9%) were farmers. It should be noted that long time economic decline is compensated by natural rehabilitation and a relatively well preserved cultural landscape, which is favorable to new development possibilities. The problems of the villages' revival have been intensively considered in the last decade only. The first programs were in fact related to the return of the refugees. That was a huge chance for the new policy towards the rural areas. Unfortunately, among others, with a completely disregarded need for preservation of traditional buildings and cultural landscape. Conservators' efforts were only partially successful. Lately, the situation has started to improve. Conventions, professional international organizations' programs and foreign experiences stimulate a new development policy of rural areas.