Contemporary population and development challenges in the Municipality of Dubrovačko Primorje, Croatia

Abstract

Svrha je ovog rada s geografskog aspekta utvrditi osnovne probleme i mogućnosti u suvremenom razvoju općine Dubrovačko primorje, njihove uzroke i posljedice. Depopulacijski procesi zahvatili su ovaj ruralni, slabo razvijeni kraj 1960-ih godina, na što su utjecali brojni čimbenici: polarizirani razvoj bivše općine Dubrovnik poradi intenzivnog razvoja turizma, loša prometna infrastruktura u brdskom dijelu općine, te neriješeno pitanje vodoopskrbe. Niz događaja pojačao je 1990-ih godina negativne demografske trendove: agresija na Hrvatsku, okupacija tijekom koje su porušeni i spaljeni stambeni, gospodarski i infrastrukturni objekti, potres nakon povratka prognanika. Dugotrajno iseljavanje iz ovog kraja prema Dubrovniku nije uzrokovalo samo trenutno smanjenje broja stanovnika već i sužavanje obnoviteljske osnovice te ubrzano smanjenje prirodnog prirasta stanovništva u općini Dubrovačko primorje. Tako je emigracijska depopulacija, kao posljedica specifičnoga društveno-gospodarskog razvoja, postala uzrok sadašnje prirodne depopulacije. Intenzitet depopulacijskih procesa utvrđen je analizom ukupnog kretanja broja stanovnika te promjene biološke i ekonomske strukture stanovništva. Na kraju se navode djelatnosti koje u općini Dubrovačko primorje imaju perspektive za razvoj, a koje bi donekle mogle zaustaviti negativne demografske trendove. To su uglavnom djelatnosti koje u ovom kraju imaju tradiciju, ali nisu dovoljno komercijalno korištene. One bi trebale zaustaviti daljnje iseljavanje i eventualno privući u rodni kraj one koji su iselili.The purpose of this paper is to define the basic issues and opportunities challenging the modern development of the Municipality of Dubrovačko Primorje, their causes and effects. The processes of depopulation affected this poorly developed rural region since 1960s, which had been influenced by various factors: development polarisation caused by intensive development of tourism, the poor traffic infrastructure in the highland-area of the Municipality and the unsolved water supply issue. In 1990s a series of events intensified negative demographic trends as follows: aggression on Croatia, occupation during which residential, economic and infrastructural buildings were destroyed and burnt, as well as an earthquake which happened after the return of the refugees. The long-lasting rural emigration from this region towards Dubrovnik caused not only an instantaneous decrease of population but also a contraction of the renewing basis and an accelerated decrease of natural growth in the Municipality of Dubrovačko Primorje. In that way the emigrational depopulation as a consequence of a specific socioeconomic development, became the cause of the current biological depopulation. The intensity of the depopulation processes has been established by an analysis of a total population dynamics and the changes in biological and economic population structure. The conclusion of the study indicates activities which have promising development in the Municipality of Dubrovačko Primorje and which might partly stop the negative demographic trends. Those are mainly traditional activities in this region which are not commercially used enough. They should prevent any further emigration and perhaps even attract those who immigrated, back to their place of birth