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Paper short abstract:

The paper is based on the ethnographic field research of water-related heritage and discusses transformation and transition of landscapes as the result of depopulation, changes of traditional agriculture and local ecological knowledge

Paper long abstract:

The paper is based on the ethnographic field research of water-related heritage conducted in the Central Croatia (EU), on the area of one small historic town and several surrounding villages. It brings ethnography of water as cultural and natural heritage pointing to various material, intangible/spiritual, social and political aspects of water, and thus of the landscape.

By presenting historical and ethnographic data paper shows the creation and importance of water-related heritage to people and the development of society during the 19th and 20th century and the changes that have taken place over the last thirty years. In particular, this includes the condition of buildings and objects (mills, wells, pumps, etc.), knowledge about the local resources (water springs, livestock feeding places, etc.), as well as social and spiritual practices (traditions, community memory, ways of socializing, local names for water places, etc.).

Based on described examples, paper discusses transformation and transition of landscapes as the result of depopulation, abandonment of traditional agriculture and local ecological knowledge. It shows what new knowledge and practices are needed in order for residents to cope with the changes that occur due to the non-use or different use of water as well as due to the other natural and social processes (floods, droughts, disappearance of streams, new climate patterns, increase in the number of wild animals, overgrowth of arable land, appearance of migrant routes, etc.). The question is whether the historical landscape can be a source of knowledge for contemporary and future water challenges.