The expansion of coal mining in the depression areas – a way to development? - See more at: http://www.humangeographies.org.ro/81-toc#sthash.MADTV1Ic.dpuf

Abstract

Abstract:The coal has been mined in the Karviná area for more than 150 years. During the course of time mining areas were continuously extended at the expense of the settled areas. At the beginnings the mining was limited, but later, namely under conditions of centrally planned economy in the period between 1950s and 1980s, it was heavily intensified. Then, as a result of economic restructuring of the Czech Republic mining was reduced in the region to be re-developed in the last decade again. The expansion of coal mining has been continuously affecting the socio-economic structure of local population (huge working immigration, industrialisation, construction of mass housing for miners -miners dormitories, later housing estates etc., displacement of settlements), surrounding landscape (subsidence of terrain, undermining, hydrological changes and formation of artificial lakes, occurrence of plenty of post-mining brownfields after the reduction of mining etc.), but also contemporary outward, image and socio-spatial structure of cities (dominance housing in housing estates, effects of communists spatial urban planning etc.). Currently, negotiations about expansion of coal mining are in progress in this region, namely the city parts of Karviná (Staré Město) and Orlová (Výhoda) should be affected. In the introductory parts of this paper social, economical and environmental aspects of coal mining on the development of regions and connected problems are discussed and both cities are shortly presented. The questionnaire survey focused on perceptions of after-mining renewal and potential expansion of mining in the area of cities of Karviná and Orlová was conducted (n=1000). As the most important predictor that influences perception of mining and renewal, employment in mining companies has been identified. The higher education respondents achieved, the higher level of opposition against mining was manifested. The correlation was also found between the level of income and the agreement with expansion of mining. It can be concluded that employees of mining company, less educated population and people with higher income agreed with economic development of the city that is based on mining.

Land Use as a Motivation for Railway Trespassing: Experience from the Czech Republic

“…This problem was relevant in the study localities of Karviná and Ostrava-Kunčice. The reduction of mining significantly influenced the development potential of whole areas, including mining localities in proximity to railway tracks [36].…”

Community Landscape Preferences for Reuse of Soviet‐Era Post‐Agricultural Brownfields—What's the Difference?*

“…Some studies have analyzed personal characteristics of respondents such as gender, age, education, and economic status (Loures et al 2016). Gender was found to be especially important for preferences of brownfield remediation, as women were found to favor different aspects of regeneration to men (Kunc, Navratil, et al 2014; Loures et al 2016; Martinát et al 2014, 2018) preferring pro‐green (Loures et al 2016) and child‐friendly solutions (Martinat et al 2018). Age and educational level were found to account for different preferences for brownfield redevelopment in post‐mining areas (Martinát et al 2015, 2016).…”

From Wasted Land to Megawatts: How to Convert Brownfields Into Solar Power Plants (the Case of the Czech Republic)

“…Tvrdoň et al, 2012) but also some negative impacts such as the bankruptcy of certain companies, unemployment growth, and the emergence of signifi cant numbers of brownfi elds, defi ned in the National Brownfi eld Regeneration Strategy (Národní strategie regenerace brownfi eldů 2008: 3) as underused, neglected real estate (plots, objects, plants) with a possible presence of contamination, having their origins in previous industrial, agricultural, residential, military, or other activity. Klusáček et al (2011), Klusáček et al (2013), Novosák et al (2013), , Vojvodíková et al (2011), Hercik et al (2011Hercik et al ( , 2014, Kunc et al (2014aKunc et al ( , 2014b, Frantál and Nováková (2014), Martinát et al (2014), Sun and Jones (2013), Alexandrescu et al (2014), Slach et al (2013) or Navrátil, Pícha, Hřebcová (2010) have, among others, dealt with the subject of brownfi elds from a variety of perspectives.…”