Croatian Islands Research Articles

Sustainable Waste Management as a Determinant of Quality of Life in Croatian Island Communities

This study examines the impact of sustainable waste management on the quality of life of the inhabitants of Croatian island communities, focusing on how waste management practices contribute to sustainable tourism development. This study aims to provide policymakers and local stakeholders with insights into the implementation of effective waste management strategies that improve environmental protection and the well-being of residents. This research aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by promoting sustainable waste management in island communities, SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by encouraging waste reduction and recycling, and SDG 14 (Life Below Water). This study uses a survey-based quantitative research method, collecting data from 585 residents of the Kvarner islands using a structured questionnaire. The hypotheses are tested, and the relationships between waste management practices, quality of life, and sustainable tourism development are looked at using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). This study concludes that sustainable waste management, driven by the active participation of residents in waste separation and recycling, significantly increases the quality of life of residents and supports the sustainable development of tourism on the Kvarner islands. This study concludes that effective waste management supported by community participation is crucial for improving the quality of life of residents and promoting sustainable tourism on the Croatian islands. It emphasizes that integrating sustainable waste management practices into tourism development policies can conserve environmental resources and ensure the long-term well-being of communities.

Connected by Sea, Isolated by Water: Water and Water Supply Infrastructure on Two Croatian Islands

This article presents ethnographic research on the lack of water infrastructure on two Croatian islands – Žirje and Hvar. Both islands are examples of various forms of isolation that have persisted throughout history and have even been reinforced by absent or neglected water infrastructure. The author critically examines the social, cultural, and economic role of water as a factor or survival or disappearance, along with its political and demographic consequences.

RURAL AREAS MANAGEMENT AND STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES WITH EMPHASIS ON SUSTAINABLE ISLAND DEVELOPMENT

The main constraint of strategic development and management of rural areas is rooted in resource management and insufficient holistic approach to all available resources and its interdependence. Management of such areas involves thorough planning on all levels and management of changes to achieve the best competitive advantage possible. In this paper, the focus is on the strategic management of the destination (Croatian islands), the concept of sustainable development of rural areas on Croatian islands, level of permanent education of local population on the concept of sustainable development and existence of even distribution of opportunities that can enable local community to achieve socio-economic benefit. The primary survey is conducted in the observed area in 2019. The total sample of respondents is 243.

“We Go Away and Come Back Whenever We Want To”: Place, Time, and Return Migration in Dugi Otok, Croatia

Over the centuries, migration has significantly impacted Croatian islands and islanders. Taking a life course perspective and deploying semistructured interviews, this paper analyses time as a variable in contemporary return migration to Dugi Otok, a small island in Croatia. The focus is on the personal experiences of key events in the interviewees’ individual life histories that influenced their decisions to leave and to return. Comparing with results from an earlier study, the findings challenge traditional notions of a migration cycle in which an initial departure is ‘closed’ by a final, permanent return. A combination of temporally conditioned experiences and shifts in sociotechnical, economic, cultural, and political context mean that emigrants increasingly experience a sense of continuity between island place and immigration destination. Their returns to the island are more likely to be temporary or circular than to be permanent.

Lost and found

The introduction of airborne laser scanning (ALS) technology in the Mediterranean region over the past decade has significantly increased opportunities for archaeological research. Archaeological remote sensing has proven to be a versatile tool with numerous applications beyond simple site mapping. One approach is the large-scale interpretation of ALS data, which allows for the analysis of the stratigraphic information contained within the data. This is particularly useful for analysing the rich remains of past land use in the karst landscapes of coastal Croatia. The Roman dry stone walls of the Kvarner islands of Krk and Cres serve as an example. These structures outline the framework backbone of Roman surveying; however, due to their poor state of preservation, many remains can only be identified through ALS data rather than aerial photography. An absolute chronology for these features was established using the OSL profiling and dating method (OSL-PD), providing a date range of AD 200 ± 100. These results can be considered the first clear evidence of surveying municipal lands on the Croatian islands.

Evaluation of landfill sites on Pašman Island and islanders’ perceptions regarding waste management issues

Islands and coastal regions are experiencing significant impact from sea-borne litter, and this issue also affects the Croatian islands, including Pašman Island. A comprehensive research approach has been adopted to assess the landfill sites on the island, which involves applying an integral list of indicators to existing landfills. Indicators have been connected to statistical data, and in the last phase of the research the perception of the islanders towards waste management was examined. The research done in 2018 involved accessing 32 solid litter sites, including 10 located on the coastline and 22 inland, with particular attention given to the composition of the waste. Results revealed that plastic litter was more prevalent in coastal sites (55%) than in inland sites (20.9%). Although the local government reported no landfills on the island in February 2021, islanders disputed this claim and confirmed the presence of solid waste disposal sites. A qualitative research study conducted in January 2022 indicated that waste management has recently improved. The data collected from the fieldwork has informed a proposal for future waste management measures in isolated, inhabited coastal areas.

Toward “good” islands: rethinking the means and goals for island development from a female perspective

PurposeBy merging good countryside and rural capitals frameworks, a model for reimagining the island's development is formulated, which is then applied to the female perspective to provide valuable insights from a group that is often marginalized in rural areas. As Croatian islands are highly tourism-oriented, this study finds it important to explore possibilities for future island development that can provide balanced and vibrant settlements on the islands.Design/methodology/approachThe present paper synthesizes Shucksmith's (2018) model of a good countryside, which serves as a goal, with Gkartzios et al.'s (2022) capitals framework, which is viewed as a means of attaining a good countryside, specifically a good island. The research is delimited to the island of Brac, Croatia. By conducting interviews with female respondents, this study aims to capture the female perspective on envisioning potential futures of “good” island living, a perspective that is frequently underestimated despite its significant contributions to the creation of an ideal locale.FindingsThe results demonstrate that there is a substantial amount of socio-cultural rural capital that is leveraged to strengthen relatedness and rights as development objectives. However, low levels of economic, built and land-based rural capital pose challenges to achieving repair and re-enchantment, which are crucial for settlements that rely on tourism.Originality/valueThese findings bear immense implications for policymakers and planners, underscoring the imperative to account for the perspectives and needs of diverse social groups, including women, in the design and implementation of development strategies for islands. By doing so, a sustainable and equitable future, rich in tourism potential, can be cultivated on the island.

Genetic depletion does not prevent rapid evolution in island-introduced lizards.

Experimental introductions of species have provided some of the most tractable examples of rapid phenotypic changes, which may reflect plasticity, the impact of stochastic processes, or the action of natural selection. Yet to date, very few studies have investigated the neutral and potentially adaptive genetic impacts of experimental introductions. We dissect the role of these processes in shaping the population differentiation of wall lizards in three Croatian islands (Sušac, Pod Kopište, and Pod Mrčaru), including the islet of Pod Mrčaru, where experimentally introduced lizards underwent rapid (~30 generations) phenotypic changes associated with a shift from an insectivorous to a plant-based diet. Using a genomic approach (~82,000 ddRAD loci), we confirmed a founder effect during introduction and very low neutral genetic differentiation between the introduced population and its source. However, genetic depletion did not prevent rapid population growth, as the introduced lizards exhibited population genetic signals of expansion and are known to have reached a high density. Our genome-scan analysis identified just a handful of loci showing large allelic shifts between ecologically divergent populations. This low overall signal of selection suggests that the extreme phenotypic differences observed among populations are determined by a small number of large-effect loci and/or that phenotypic plasticity plays a major role in phenotypic changes. Nonetheless, functional annotation of the outlier loci revealed some candidate genes relevant to diet-induced adaptation, in agreement with the hypothesis of directional selection. Our study provides important insights on the evolutionary potential of bottlenecked populations in response to new selective pressures on short ecological timescales.

Can digital nomads solve the problem of tourist economy? The case of Croatian islands

Many Croatian island municipalities depend on tourism, which provides income by using natural resources; however, traditional tourism is labour intensive and low-skilled which leads to low wages and low possibilities to increase productivity. This paper aims to analyse and discuss other possibilities than traditional tourist industry for the Croatian islands to develop. We will turn towards the concept of digital nomads to discuss if digital nomads can be a solution for the Croatian islands. As a starting point, we use a conceptual model inspired by Harris and Todaro's theoretical outline. We discuss the new possibilities that digitalisation has opened for these islands. The digital economy has made where and when work is performed less important. Thus, the lines between work and non-work are blurred. Tourist industry must look ahead for new forms of mobility and new kinds of work and non-work, which may bring positive exogenous effects to the islands in the form of higher educational level, cultural activities, and purchase power. Our main point is that turning towards attracting digital nomads can, to some extent, be a solution.

Seeing Croatian Islands as Something Other than Paradise

Seeing Croatian Islands as Something Other than Paradise This article is a review of the study entitled Życie na wyspach. Chorwacka współczesna proza insularna [Life on Islands: Contemporary Croatian Insular Fiction], authored by Anna Boguska (Warszawa: Instytut Slawistyki PAN & Fundacja Slawistyczna, 2020, pp. 232).Inne spojrzenie na chorwacką wyspę jako rajRecenzja monografii naukowej Życie na wyspach. Chorwacka współczesna proza insularna, autorstwa Anny Boguskiej (Warszawa: Instytut Slawistyki PAN & Fundacja Slawistyczna, 2020, 232 ss.).

Cultural products consumption during COVID-19 pandemic: the case of Croatian islands

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic has a significant impact on the cultural and creative industries (CCI) sector and has accelerated the transition to digital culture. This article explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the consumption of CCI products seen from the islanders’ perspective. The data were collected through a survey conducted in 2020. Results show that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the consumption of cultural products and that socio-demographic characteristic does not influence the consumption of online cultural products during the pandemic period. The results further reveal that the increase in the consumption of online content of CCI during the pandemic was influenced by the attitude of people towards culture in the pre-pandemic time. Also, the consumption of online content of cultural products has proven to be more significant for respondents residing on small and medium-sized islands. The results could provide some valuable implications for cultural island policy.

Impact of COVID-19 on Croatian island tourism: a study of residents’ perceptions

The COVID-19 pandemic, which marked the whole of 2020, caused numerous difficulties in the economies and the health systems of all countries and led to a global economic and health crisis. This paper explores citizens’ attitudes towards tourism on Croatian islands during the COVID-19 pandemic using survey data from over 200 islanders. The results reveal that almost one-third of the citizens considered the islands overcrowded with tourists in the pre-pandemic period. The survey results indicate a link between the expected impact of the development of tourism, citizens’ attitudes towards tourism, and their willingness to take a larger health risk due to the pandemic. The results also show that islanders’ attitudes toward economic measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic were not homogenous and were significantly different depending on the size of the island.

ZERO ELECTRIC ENERGY ISLAND CONCEPT IN CROATIA – PRELIMINARY STUDY FOR THE ISLAND OF VIS

Croatian islands, with strong natural wind and solar potential, are possible locations for extensive usage of renewable energy sources. This paper presents the results of the preliminary investigation of the applicability of renewable energy sources for the zero-energy island concept on Croatian islands, in particular for the central Dalmatian island of Vis.

Effect of Different Watering Regimes on Olive Oil Quality and Composition of Coratina Cultivar Olives Grown on Karst Soil in Croatia.

Croatian islands are olive growing areas characterized by poor conditions for olive trees because of karst soil and a precipitation deficiency. Under these conditions, irrigation is a very important factor for constant olive oil production. This paper aims to investigate the effects of different watering regimes on quantity, sensory and chemical quality and composition of Coratina cv. olive oil obtained from trees grown on ameliorate karst soil during two harvesting years. Olive trees were subjected to rainfed conditions and three different irrigation treatments (T1—deficit irrigation representing the usual producer’s practice, T2—regulated deficit irrigation in respect to phenological stages, T3—full irrigation). Irrigation treatments increased oil yield compared to rainfed conditions (T1 + 58%, T2 + 66% and T3 + 74%, representing average values for both studied years). All olive oil samples were of extra quality. Irrigation led to a decrease in carotenoids, volatiles, polyunsaturated fatty acids and linolenic acid contents, with no difference found among irrigation treatments. Total phenols and secoiridoids concentration was not affected by irrigation, indicating that similar oil quality could be achieved with less demand on the water supply. Obtained results could help producers to define a suitable irrigation management in particular conditions of ameliorate karst.

POOR HYPERTENSION CONTROL AND DISAPPEARANCE OF MEDITERRANEAN LIFE STYLE ON THE CROATIAN ADRIATIC ISLANDS. HUNT ON THE SILENT KILLER (HSK) – OPPORTUNISTIC PUBLIC HEALTH ACTION

Objective: Mediterranean lifestyle is slowly disappearing along the Croatian coast and Croatian islands were supposed to be the last part of healthy living. Unfortunately, healthcare system is poorer on islands than in other parts of Croatia. Our aim was to analyse lifestyle and hypertension (HT) treatment and control among inhabitants of the Croatian islands. Design and method: HSK was organised by the Croatian Society of Hypertension and conducted by the WG- medical students in hypertension. A screening site was set up at the boat by which students traveled from island to island. Adult volunteers were recruited through opportunistic screening on five Adriatic islands. Trained medical students collected information through an extended questionnaire. HT was defined as blood pressure (BP) > 140/90mmHg (single occasion; an average of 2nd–3rd measurement; Omron M3) and/or self-reported use of drugs for HT. Results were compared with results from the general Croatian population (EHUH 2 cohort). Results: A total of 424 participants were included (196 men, average age 61 years). There were less obese and current smokers at islands than in the general Croatian population (26.5% vs. 33.1%; 21.5% vs. 25%, respectively, p < 0.05). Islanders were more physically active (> 1 time/week), eat more frequently fish (> 1 time/week), and use more frequently olive oil (daily basis) (44.1% vs. 26%, 79.9% vs. 32.5%, 72.6% vs. 14.9 %, respectively; p < 0.01). However, there were no differences in consumption of red meat, processed meat, cookies and cakes (p > 0.05). Less hypertensive patients were treated and control was achieved in less subjects on islands than in the general population (60.7% vs. 72.9%; 27.2% vs. 39.3%, respectively; p < 0.01). Conclusions: Some elements of Mediterranean life are still present on Croatian islands. However, several poor lifestyle habits are equally present on islands and in other Croatian regions. Treatment and control of HT are poorer on islands reflecting inadequate healthcare and lack of physicians. Public health authorities should reorganize health care on islands. In the meantime, such public health actions are warranted and must continue.

N-Glycosylation Patterns across the Age-Related Macular Degeneration Spectrum.

The pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) remains elusive, despite numerous research studies. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the changes of plasma and IgG-specific N-glycosylation across the disease severity spectrum. We examined 2835 subjects from the 10.001 Dalmatians project, originating from the isolated Croatian islands of Vis and Korčula. All subjects were classified into four groups, namely (i) bilateral AMD, (ii) unilateral AMD, (iii) early-onset drusen, and (iv) controls. We analysed plasma and IgG N-glycans measured by HPLC and their association with retinal fundus photographs. There were 106 (3.7%) detected cases of AMD; 66 of them were bilateral. In addition, 45 (0.9%) subjects were recorded as having early-onset retinal drusen. We detected several interesting differences across the analysed groups, suggesting that N-glycans can be used as a biomarker for AMD. Multivariate analysis suggested a significant decrease in the immunomodulatory bi-antennary glycan structures in unilateral AMD (adjusted odds ratio 0.43 (95% confidence interval 0.22–0.79)). We also detected a substantial increase in the pro-inflammatory tetra-antennary plasma glycans in bilateral AMD (7.90 (2.94–20.95)). Notably, some of these associations were not identified in the aggregated analysis, where all three disease stages were collapsed into a single category, suggesting the need for better-refined phenotypes and the use of disease severity stages in the analysis of more complex diseases. Age-related macular degeneration progression is characterised by the complex interplay of various mechanisms, some of which can be detected by measuring plasma and IgG N-glycans. As opposed to a simple case-control study, more advanced and refined study designs are needed to understand the pathogenesis of complex diseases.

Testing the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommendations on maternal reproductive health and associated neonatal characteristics in a transitional, Mediterranean population

Background High pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) are significant risk factors for maternal and neonatal health. Aim To assess pre-pregnancy BMI and GWG during pregnancy and their association with different maternal and neonatal characteristics in the transitional Mediterranean population from the Eastern Adriatic islands. Subjects and methods Two hundred and sixty-two mother–child dyads from the CRoatian Islands’ Birth Cohort Study (CRIBS) were included in the study. Chi-square test, ANOVA, and regression analysis were used to test the association between selected characteristics. Results In total, 22% of women entered pregnancy as overweight/obese and 46.6% had excessive GWG. Pre-pregnancy overweight and obesity were significantly associated with elevated triglycerides uric acid levels, and decreased HDL cholesterol in pregnancy. Excessive GWG was associated with elevated fibrinogen and lipoprotein A levels. Women with high pre-pregnancy BMI and GWG values were more likely to give birth to babies that were large for gestational age (LGA), additionally confirmed in the multiple logistic regression model. Conclusion High maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and excessive GWG were both significantly associated with deviated biochemical parameters and neonatal size. More careful monitoring of maternal nutritional status can lead to better pre- and perinatal maternal healthcare.

Death, Funerals and Mourning on the Croatian Islands During the COVID-19 Pandemic

On islands and in island communities, especially smaller and more isolated ones, epidemics were often of greater intensity and left more significant consequences than on the mainland. The unique characteristics of an island (size, remoteness, isolation, small population size, and several manageable access points) affect the transmission of mainland epidemics and their frequency. The current global COVID-19 pandemic is an opportunity to investigate how the infection and epidemiological measures affected the life and death of island communities. The pandemic has brought mass death into our daily lives and altered the way people grieve, commemorate and remember their deceased. This paper presents the experiences and feelings of people during the COVID-19 pandemic on Croatian islands, with a focus on death, funerals, mourning, and the loss of family members. Due to the impossibility of carrying out the usual practices related to the funeral because of COVID-19 restrictions, the process of mourning and dealing with the loss of loved ones was difficult. Island communities accepted the new rules and adapted to the new circumstances but indicated that island-specific and more flexible crisis management should be applied during this health crisis. Some epidemiological measures, such as social distancing, internal island travel restrictions, and reduced gatherings, were highlighted by islanders as challenging and sometimes unnecessarily strict for some islands and their specific situations. For family members of those who died from COVID-19, additional factors and challenges have complicated their loss. Digital and social media were used to connect people and helped in coping with mourning in solitude and isolation. In this global pandemic, island communities responded to the impact of pandemic crises and adapted to new circumstances of the “new normal”.

Preliminary Design of a Ship for Waste Sorting from Croatian Islands

In the Environmental Protection Strategy of the Republic of Croatia, waste management is defined as a national priority, and the vision is a landfill-free concept. The backbones are recycling centers with sorting plants where separately collected waste will be prepared for recycling. Concept of sustainable development is a key determinant of the development of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County (PGKC), and the fact that permanent disposal of waste of any kind will not be possible on the islands is particularly important for this County. Mixed municipal waste generated in PGKC should be first sorted at the local transshipment station on the island, and then transported by road to the county center for waste management, which is an expensive and complex process. Given that sea transport is known to be the cheapest, one possible solution would be to place a waste sorting plant on a suitable ship which would collect waste by sailing around the island, thus avoiding the need for each island to have its own sorting plant. The paper presents a preliminary design of a ship for sorting waste collected from the large islands of PGKC. The mission requirements of the ship were elaborated initially, and then a basic design of the ship was made, accompanied by the corresponding naval architecture calculations, general arrangement plan and outline specification.

The Development of Tourism on Large Croatian Islands: The Case of Hvar Town on the Island of Hvar

The Development of Tourism on Large Croatian Islands: The Case of Hvar Town on the Island of Hvar