The paper discusses problematic areas in the Republic of Srpska, from the
aspects of spatial distribution of the population and demographic changes
during the period between the last two censuses. The paper also treats causes
and consequences of an unbalanced spatial development. Social-economic
processes indicate the increase of regional differences, the consequences of
which are numerous and they also differentiate the country?s area on several
grounds. One of the consequences is the unbalanced development and spatial
distribution of the population. Assuming that the demographic potential
triggers the complex valorization of an area, the paper also indicates
limitations and risks of the future development resulting from demographic
changes. Starting with 1960s, the poor total demographic potential of the
Republic of Srpska area has been particularly strong in rural areas. This
further implies the necessity to change the approach to demographic
development strategies. From both theoretical and practical aspects, the
paper also addresses the consequences of the unbalanced spatial distribution
of the population. The polarized development of the country jeopardizes the
economic and geopolitical sustainability of the demographically depressive
peripheral areas and makes it difficult to integrate into modern development
processes.
⎯ Recent climate change has been caused by interaction of natural processes and the anthropogenic factor. In turn, it incites the pronounced natural and socioeconomic changes. It is the air temperature that plays a pertinent role in understanding the climate change problem. Southeast Europe, including Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), is highly relevant for the observations of regional differences in changes of air temperature regime. From the regional-geographical point of view, South and Southeast B&H cover 26.5% (13.568 km²) of B&H territory (51.209 km²). It is from south and southeast that the Mediterranean impacts from the Adriatic Sea penetrate into the defined region, which further affects the variability of climate conditions in B&H. The paper presents trends in three parameter categories: mean annual, mean maximum, and mean minimum air temperatures in the territory of South and Southeast B&H. The aim of the paper is to demonstrate the likely climate change based on air temperature trends. Methodologically, temperature trends were processed by using the Mann-Kendall trend test. For the purpose of the analysis, available data from four meteorological stations in South and Southeast B&H for a 56-year period were used. Based on the obtained results, a statistically relevant positive trend was observed in all twelve time series. According to the analyzed trends, the increase of air temperature was dominant in the target area. The application of Geographical Information System (GIS) tools indicated the presence of regional differences in air temperature distribution. An evident phenomenon is the combined impact of the orography of the region and the maritime influence. The occurring climate change affects specific social sectors, so the problem must be addressed properly. Another pertinent fact is that the climate change problem has not been adequately analyzed in the strategic documents in B&H.
The paper attempts to identify and define the poorly developed (problem) areas in the Republic of Srpska (a Bosnia and Herzegovina entity), the specificities of their geo-systems, the fundamental development issues and comparative development benefits, with an aim to minimize the spatial (regional) development disparities and reach the territorial cohesion and sustainable development. In order to single out the problem areas, it is necessary to define an adequate development strategy, i.e. to plan and conduct the crucial development processes based upon the identification and valorization of autochthone development potentials. The constant evident spatial-development disparity, the social-economic issues and differences, and the problems of population movement and distribution are all crucial issues of the Republic of Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina sustainable development.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.