“I think we have come to the end. The real end”: transhumance pastoralism on Humski put in 21st century

Abstract

Transhumantno stočarstvo, koje je milenijima bitno oblikovalo povijest između mediteranskih obala i planina u zaleđu, uglavnom je iščezlo iz života stanovnika pojasa uz istočnu jadransku obalu, ali i kao predmet znanstvenih istraživanja. Godina 2020. — 2022. provedena su istraživanja stanja sezonskog stočarstva na Humskom putu, koji danas živim održavaju isključivo pripadnici srpske etničke zajednice. Ono se odvija na stazama koje su povezivale jadransko priobalje od Stona i Neuma s planinama na sjeveru Hercegovine. Terenski su praćena dva kretanja stoke na Zelengoru, tradicionalnim načinom pješice, i obišlo se najaktivnije ispasište Morine. Iako je očito da za takvom vrstom uzgoja stoke postoje potrebe i da je višestruko poželjan, brojke ukazuju da toj praksi prijeti nestajanje. Na Zelengori i Morinama je prije stotinu godinu paslo po oko 60.000 ovaca, a 2022. je na Zelengori zapaženo tek oko 2.000, a na Morinama oko 8.000 ovaca. U članku se daje profil stočara, opisuje način njihova rada, tehnološke promjene koje su nastupile u radu te problemi s kojima se susreću. Autor nastoji osvijetlili nepovoljne okolnosti transhumance, osobito modernizacijske procese, te upozorava na posvemašnji nedostatak podrške u stočarskim politikama.Transhumance pastoralism, which for millennia significantly shaped the history between the Mediterranean coasts and the mountains in the hinterland, mostly disappeared from the lives of the inhabitants of the belt along the eastern Adriatic coast, but also as a subject of scientific research. In years 2020 — 2022 a research was carried out on the state of seasonal cattle breeding on Humski put, which is maintained today exclusively by members of the Serb ethnic community. It takes place on the paths that connect the Adriatic Coast from Ston and Neum with the mountains in the north of Herzegovina. Two movements of livestock to Mt. Zelengora were followed, the traditional way on foot, and the most active grazing area of Morine highlands was visited. Although it is obvious that there is a need for this type of pastoralism and that it is desirable in many ways, the figures indicate that this practice is in danger of disappearing. A century ago, about 60,000 sheep grazed on each Mt. Zelengora and Morine, and in 2022, only about 2,000 sheep were observed on Zelengora, and about 8,000 sheep on Morine. The article provides a profile of herders, describes the way they work, the technological changes that have occurred in their work, and the problems they face working transhumance. In the text, the author tries to shed light on the unfavorable circumstances of transhumance, especially modernization processes, and warns of the complete lack of support in livestock policies