Paper short abstract:

Our paper examines how different regional polices and strategies - involved in developing new forms of rural activities - are influencing the local community. Our presentation aims also to bring into discussion the potential of cultural ecology as tool for understanding rural economy.

Paper long abstract:

Restoration of pastoralism in Beskid Mountains in XXI century is due to many reasons. The most important among them seem to be a variety of programs and subsidies from European Union as well as different cross-border projects. Our paper examines how different regional polices and strategies - involved in developing new forms of rural activities (transhumance in particular) -are influencing the local community. We are asking: what are the new social relations established with heritagization of pastoralism, who are the social actors and what is their impact on pastoral transhumance practices and narratives. Our presentation aims also to bring into discussion the potential of cultural ecology as tool for understanding rural sustainable development. Anthropologists from University of Silesia are presently conducting ethnographic research in rural communities of Beskid Mountains (especially in Koniaków, Istebna, Wisła villages) regarding economic, political, environmental and cultural settings and trying to develop a complex approach based on cultural ecology.