Background Information: Destructive Mining Plans Threaten Historic Landscapse in Karonosze and Izert
Published by MAC on 2003-07-07Source: European Centre for Eco and Agro Tourism
Background Information: Destructive Mining Plans Threaten Historic Landscapse in Karonosze and Izert Region in Poland
Unique historic landscape
North of the Giants' Mountains (Karkonosze) and Iron Mountains (Góry Izerskie) in the Jelenia Góra district in the south-west of Poland, you will find an unique combination of nature and culture. In this relatively unspoiled agrarian landscape there is a huge quantity of cultural and natural monuments, including historical landscape elements; castles; palaces; mills; archaeological sites; old picturesque villages and nature reserves. This outstanding international value has been recognised at 3 international conferences organised by the Polish centre for the preservation of historic landscapes under the patronage of Mr. Robert de Jong president of ICOMOS-IFLA (International UN committee for historic garden and cultural landscapes) who has advised to Polish government to introduce the region into the UNESCO word heritage list. Last year an international exhibition has been organised in Poland (Wroclaw, Jelenia Gora) and Germany (Berlin, Potsdam, Görlitz, Dresden) under the name of: "The Jelenia Gora (Hirschberg) valley of castels and gardens, our joint European heritage".
Mining plans
In the region and abroad, there is strong support to from many organizations and individuals protect this landscape by a combination of improving the local economy and the promotion of cultural-, health-and agro-tourism. But recently, these untouched cultural and natural landscapes are threatened by mining plans which may destroy all long lasting efforts to protect these most valuable landscapes and use them in a sustainable way.
Three examples are illustrative:
1. Klopotnica in the Mirsk county. The region around Klopotnica is severely damaged by a growing number of mines. The local communities have been opposing them using different kinds of judicial procedures, but so far unsuccessfully.
2. Karpniki in the Janowice county, in the protected landscape Park Rudawy Janowice. During the 19th century the summer residency of European Royalty. Here you find the highest concentration of castels, palaces and historic gardens in Europe (28 within an area of 10 km). The mining company Pol-Skal operates already a small mine but plans to
enlarge it considerably.
3. Stara Kamienica. Between Chromiec and Mala Kamienica. Pol-Skal wants
to open a 80 ha granite-mine close to the Nemo International Centre for walking and
nature tourism. The mining plans will mean the end of the Nemo Centre and its plans for rural tourism and local development. The local community officially opposes the mining plans. But they fear that the decision of the Province or National Government will be in favour of the mining company.
Effects of mining industry mean catastrophe for village life. The locals are very much afraid that the mining industry will lay open the dangerous uranium, which was exploited here many years ago The Polish company Pol-Skal wants to strip mine stone. They don't look for special stones; they need granite for new roads and some industries. They will blow up granite rocks causing enormous clouds of dust. Day and night, the noise of pulverising the stones will be heard from far around. Big trucks with stones will drive through the villages. One mine will effect an entire region. Recent research proves that mining industry does not improve employment or the local economy. On the contrary, the region will become much more impoverished.
Local communities fight for their landscape
Recently local communities started to protest against the demolition of their homeland. Even in small villages in the countryside, far from the towns, locals organise protest meetings and have emotional debates. They realise that the mining industry wipes out all aspects of sustainable development. They no longer believe the official stories about more employment and money for the region, because the case of Klopotnica illustrated that the mining industry caused a catastrophe for the region.
They also realise particularly that this region is in danger, and is in absolute need of sustainable development. Since the threats of the mining companies, they have united themselves in protest committees and associations. They want not only to protest, but also to develop alternative projects.
Alternative economic development
The free market in Poland leading to dumping of (subsidised) agricultural products from the EU - has pushed aside the traditional small-scale agriculture of the region which succumbs to economic isolation. Most agricultural land lies waste. Unemployment is high. Community spirit, vulnerable after the forced migrations in 1946 and forty-five years of communism has been steadily evaporated since 1990.Recently however residents have become aware of the special cultural-historical and ecological value of their district. Times are changing. Many initiatives have arisen: farmers developed accommodation and tourist arrangements; ecological farming started; outsiders started tourism enterprises in co-operation with locals; artists organised workshops and galleries; schools created programs about local history and legends; monuments have been restored: something of a new spirit woke up.
People started to care about their environment, after years of neglect. They expect that entrance into the EU would give new opportunities and support for environmental and sustainable development. Although Polish authorities and the European Union recognise that sustainable regional development should be approached integrally (social, ecological and economic problems should be solved in relation to each other) they have so far not offered sufficient instruments to support the locals, their protests against the mines, or their alternatives. There is a lack of opportunities for schooling and practical training for employment. There is a call for a combination of rural development that benefits local population and sustainable recreation, in which tourism contributes to the preservation of culture and nature.
A good example is the Nemo-project in Stara Kamienica, which is threatened directly by the mining plans. This project offers a combination of an education centre and an experimental farm in which local people can participate and integrate so as to promote community development. An important part of the project, therefore, is co-operation and exchange with local and (inter) regional non-profit organizations; entrepreneurs; farmers; artists; schools; and authorities. And, by chance, it has happened that the mine is planned
right in the place where the experimental farm is being planned..
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