Privatni projekti isušivanja i melioracie tla u Dalmacjii i Istri od ranog novog vijeka do 20. stoljeća
Private Projects of Land Improvement, Drainage and Amelioration in Dalmatia and Istria from Early Modern Period to the Twentieth Century

Summary/Abstract: This paper compares two private projects of amelioration and swamp land drainage, and how they contributed to human environmental issues throughout three centuries. The first case is Vransko jezero lake drainage on a Borelli feudal manor in Ravni kotari in the 18th century; the second is related to land drainage in swamp Brijuni estate of the Austrian industrialist Paula Kupelwieser in the beginning of the 20th century. Similar motives urged both entrepreneurs to undertake comprehensive and very expensive amelioration works, with specific ecology, economy and political contexts shaping the final results of these two efforts. This refers to numerous obstacles, relating both to ecology and economy, these two entrepreneurs were struck with; to professional know-how and technical capabilities they had; finally, to long-term consequences these land improvement efforts hand on the environment. An echo of physiocratsí ideals, that wealth is derived from land development (the first case), and ongoing agrarian, technical, industrial and energy revolutions in Europe (the second case), only sped up the anthropization and conversion of landscapes and natural environments by man. Regardless of the 150 year-time distance, both attempts failed due to unfavorable political circumstances, lack of local acceptance and failing support by local population and central government. However, the direction human activities had on the nature could not be changed anymore, as landscapes were primarily formed on a little more moderate use of relevant natural prerequisites and on plans and visions by former land owners.

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