Mediterranean's changing saltscapes; a study of the abandonment of salt-making business in Greece

Abstract

Saltscapes are landscapes with a long lasting salt-making activity, thus embedded with a blend of salt-related characteristics that marked them physically, ecologically, economically, and culturally. This study, based on a broad survey, focuses on the changing atlas of saltmaking business and the consequent land use change in Greece within the 20 th century.Like in many Mediterranean countries, salt-making has been an important activity in Greece, not only because salt catered for local and national needs (food condiment and preservative; basic resource in husbandry and industry), but also because it offered significant revenues to the Greek State. Taxed salt has been produced in 28 semi-or entirely-mechanized State saltworks. The remaining less productive salinas operated in clandestine and were numerous: 48 in lagoons and 307 on rocks. Both salina types produced either self-formed salt or were man-managed (primitive, artisanal). This very dense network of salt-making sites, all located along the coastline, was in operation mostly until WW II, thereafter many sites were gradually abandoned. Today only eight saltworks are active in Greece (dormancy 71.4%) and, despite their increased potential, the overall saltscape loss in the country is significant. Salinas operating in lagoons suffered a spectacular change (93.4%) compared to those on rocks (43.0%). We discuss the reasons of abandonment, especially the role of "globalization" in heritage loss (ecological, cultural). We compare salinas on islands and the mainland as to typology and values and we propose ways of recuperating these threatened resources by using them as alternative poles for local development mainly through tourism.

La patrimonialización de las salinas tradicionales: una herramienta para el desarrollo local

“…Sus valores son en su mayoría intangibles y la desaparición gradual de los salineros los hace muy vulnerables. Ejemplos de estos lugares pueden encontrarse en Croacia, Malta, la península de Mani (Grecia) o Bañaderos (Canarias) (Petanidou et al, 2002;Petanidou y Dalaka, 2009). La consolidación del proceso de patrimonialización en algunas salinas significa que se ha alcanzado una altura de crucero, pero no necesariamente su destino.…”

“…Marín y d'Ayala (1997) estimaron que hubo "4.000 salinas históricas individuales o agrupadas" en el Mediterráneo, mientras que Sadoul (1998) contabilizó 170 salinas en funcionamiento en esta región. En otros inventarios se estima que hubo 116 (anti-guos) lugares de producción de sal en Alemania y unos 380 en Grecia (Emons y Walter, 1988;Petanidou, 1997;Petanidou y Dalaka, 2009). A pesar de esta abundancia, hoy en día existen pocas salinas activas en Europa.…”