Is There Sustainable Development after Mining? A Case Study of Three Mining Areas in the Apuseni Region (Romania)

The cessation or downsizing of mining activities induced complex challenges for entire regions in Romania, leading to depopulation, poverty, and pollution. Resource-dependency locked these regions in a mono-industry setting where it was difficult for new development paths to emerge. This paper prese...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sustainability 2020-12, Vol.12 (23), p.9791
Main Authors: Botezan, Camelia, Constantin, Veronica, Meltzer, Monika, Radovici, Andrei, Pop, Alina, Alexandrescu, Filip, Stefanescu, Lucrina
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Case studies
Climate change
Community
Cultural heritage
Downsizing
Mines
Mining industry
Poverty
Qualitative analysis
Redevelopment
Research methodology
Society
Subsidies
Sustainability
Sustainable development
Trends
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Summary:The cessation or downsizing of mining activities induced complex challenges for entire regions in Romania, leading to depopulation, poverty, and pollution. Resource-dependency locked these regions in a mono-industry setting where it was difficult for new development paths to emerge. This paper presents a historical overview of a well-known Romanian mining region and identifies promising recovery opportunities that could shift the trajectory of its mining communities towards new sustainable paths. The research was based on official statistical data for the period 1965/1966–2018, complemented by qualitative data extracted from 39 semi-structured interviews with residents from the study area. The results revealed that the concentration of employment in the mining sector, together with other concurring factors, made it difficult for the communities to find sustainable ways of development while, at the same time, highlighting some possible revitalization and recovery opportunities. The findings contribute to a better understanding of mining communities, which will support the creation of tailored policies and planning strategies aimed towards their sustainable redevelopment.
ISSN:2071-1050
2071-1050
DOI:10.3390/su12239791