University of Nova Gorica Laboratory for Environmental Research Vipavska 13, POB 301 5001 Nova Gorica, Slovenia Project: Transec
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University of Nova Gorica Laboratory for Environmental Research Vipavska 13, POB 301 5001 Nova Gorica, Slovenia Project: Transeconet IDENTITIES AND STRATEGIES – RAISING AWARNESS WP6.1 Report Perception of Landscape Changes Authors: Gregor Torkar and Romina Rodela Nova Gorica, 2011 Abstract: This report aims to map out local peoples’ perception of landscape changes in the Pomurje region. To this end it reports on the historical and recent perception of landscape change, on the main processes driving landscape changes, but also it reports on people perceptions about Pomurje as a cross-border area, and on knowledge people have about the ecological networks. Qualitative data informs us that a combination of geomorphologic, socioeconomic, cultural, and historic factors have shaped the Pomurje landscape and have influenced land use patterns in the region. As from respondents’ narratives the emergence of agricultural modernization and policy trends, present in the country after the World War II, appear to have most influenced the landscape and the rural lifestyle in Pomurje. Of a particular relevance are the impacts that the state border (its closure/openness) had on local development dynamics. Key words: ecological networks, perception of landscape change, landscape, Pomurje region Povzetek: V poro čilu predstavljamo, kako lokalni prebivalci Pomurske regije zaznavajo spremembe v kulturni krajini. V poro čilu poro čamo o njihovem zaznavanju preteklega in današnjega stanja v krajini ter o glavnih dejavnikih, ki spreminjajo krajino. V poro čilu tudi predstavljamo, kako ljudje zaznavajo Pomurje v povezavi s čezmejnimi obmo čji, ter njihovo poznavanje in razumevanje ekoloških mrež. Pridobljeni kvalitativni podatki kažejo na kombinacijo geomorfoloških, socioekonomskih, kulturnih in zgodovinskih dejavnikov, ki so oblikovali krajino v Pomurju in vplivali na vzorce rabe prostora v regiji. Iz pri čevanj intervjuvancev ugotavljamo, da sta modernizacija kmetijstva in politi čne razmere po drugi svetovni vojni najbolj vplivale na trenutno podobo krajine in življenjske razmere v Pomurju. Posebej zanimivi so obsežni vplivi zaprtosti/odprtosti državnih meja na dinamike lokalnega razvoja. Klju čne besede: ekološke mreže, percepcija spremeb pokrajine, kulturna krajina, Pomurje This document reports on the research activities undertaken by the University of Nova Gorica (PP 14) for the Workpackage 6: Identities and Strategies, under the TransEcoNet project. The TransEcoNet project is implemented through the CENTRAL EUROPE Programme and co-financed by the ERDF. 2 Table of Contents 1.INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................ 5 1.1. RESEARCH AREA : POMURJE REGION .............................................................................. 5 2. METHODOLOGY.............................................................................................................. 9 2.1. QUESTIONNAIRE ........................................................................................................... 9 2.2. SAMPLING .................................................................................................................... 9 3. SUMMARY OF THE RESULTS WITH DISCUSSION ......................................................13 3.1. PRESENT STATE AND IMPACTS ON THE LANDSCAPE........................................................13 3.1.1. The unique characteristics of the landscape making it different from the surrounding landscapes................................................................................................13 3.1.2. The prides, the precious component of the landscape ........................................15 3.1.3. The existing landscape degradations, negative landscape elements and influences .....................................................................................................................16 3.1.4. The urban parks and cemeteries in the area.......................................................16 3.1.5. The gardens in the area......................................................................................17 3.1.6. Major landscape elements, which have positive or negative impact on the nature .....................................................................................................................................18 3.1.7. Environmental problems in the area....................................................................19 3.1.8. The concept of ecological networks ....................................................................20 3.2. FORMER STATE AND CHANGES OF THE LANDSCAPE ........................................................20 3.2.1. Tales, stories, myths connected to the landscape...............................................21 3.2.2. Traditions, having the message of the respect and protection of nature/landscape .....................................................................................................................................22 3.2.3. Main changes in the agriculture ..........................................................................22 3.2.4. Changes in the forest and the forestry ................................................................24 3.2.5 Changes in fishing and hunting............................................................................24 3.2.6. Changes in the tourism .......................................................................................25 3.2.7 Changes in the traffic and infrastructure of the area.............................................25 3.2.8. Changes in the character of the settlements and buildings .................................27 3.2.9. Changes in the industrial activities ......................................................................28 3 3.2.10. Nature conservation activity in the area ............................................................28 3.2.11. The landscape affected changes in the future...................................................29 3.2.12. The ideal landscape..........................................................................................30 3.3. COMPARISON OF THE SITUATION ON THE BOTH SIDE OF THE STATE BORDER ....................30 3.3.1. Common landscape elements and differences;...................................................31 3.3.2. The border-line and the effect of the border on the landscape changes..............32 4. CONCLUSIONS...............................................................................................................34 LIST OF FIGURES...............................................................................................................35 LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................36 REFERENCES.....................................................................................................................37 APPENDIX I: VPRAŠALNIK (QUESTIONNAIRE IN SLOVENE LANGUAGE)....................39 4 1.Introduction This report is a deliverable submitted by the University of Nova Gorica under the Work package 6 titled ’Identities and strategies – raising awareness’ that is part of the international project TransEcoNet (Transnational Ecological Networks in Central Europe). The overall focus of the Work package 6.1 is to map out the relationship people have with their environment in a chosen geographical area. It is assumed that this knowledge can help us in understanding landscape use-patterns and support in devising more relevant policy measures. In this regard, the focus here is on ‘peoples’ perception of landscape changes’ and it is suggested that this type of qualitative data can be particularly useful for understanding of socio-economic/historic/cultural factors driving landscape changes. 1.1. Research area The chosen research area is the Pomurje region which has a total of 119.537 inhabitants spread out within 27 municipalities (Table 1, for further data). It is the most north-eastern region in the country characterized by a substantial portion of lowland and a continental climate (Figure 1). Figure 1. Pomurska region (red) Figure 2. Prekmurje and Lower Styria divided by Mura River 5 Table 1: Pomurska statistical region (SORS, 2010: 36) Area, km 2 , 31. 12. 2008 1.337 Population, 31. 12. 2008 119.537 Density of population, 31. 12. 2008 89,4 Number of live births, 2008 1.058 Number of deaths, 2008 1.337 Natural increase, 2008 .-279 Number of pupils, 2008/2009 1) 9.101 Number of upper secondary school pupils, 2008/2009 1) 4.960 Number of tertiary students, 2008/2009 2) 5.551 Number of tertiary graduates, 2008 2) 833 Number of persons in employment, 2008 43.464 Number of persons in paid employment, 2008 36.005 Number of self-employed persons, 2008 7.459 Number of registered unemployed persons, 2008 6.733 Average monthly gross earning by statistical region of residence, total, 1.204 2008 - for men 1.258 - for women 1.140 Number of enterprises, 2008 6.702 Turnover of enterprises, mio EUR, 2008 2.680 Number of agricultural holdings, 2007 9.794 Utilised agricultural area, ha, 2007 65.498 Number of tourist arrivals, 2008 214.356 Through the history the political borders in Pomurje were changing. From the 9th Century until the end of the First World War (1918) the Prekmurje (the area of Pomurje on the left side of the river Mura) was under Hungarian political and public spheres (Figure 2). The Ku čnica River was the delineation of the political boundary with Austria as was the Mura