![HER[AI]TAGE](https://her-ai-tage.pou-cakovec.hr/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/logo-1.png){kind=logo}
![HER[AI]TAGE](https://her-ai-tage.pou-cakovec.hr/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/logo-2.png){kind=logo}
At our place, everything revolved around work, in which children were also included. The village paid a herdsman, and every house had to provide a person to help when it was their turn. During the daily grazing, the herdsman watched over a large herd of cows and horses. We call this common pasture gmajna. The gmajna was a common property where we learnt a lot from the herdsman. He knew old stories and passed them on to younger generations. The livestock gathered there and were driven all the way to the Mura.
#SustainableAgriculture #CommunityLedHeritageManagement #CulturalLandscapes #TraditionalEcologicalKnowledge #BiodiversityConservation
This narrative describes the gmajna, a traditional common pasture system managed by a village herdsman. It illustrates a clear example of community-led heritage management, where social organisation and passing stories down to children were part of daily life. The gmajna is presented as a place for biodiversity conservation, kept safe through grazing practices that are now becoming rare.
Common grazing lands are critical for biodiversity and are eligible for support under the CAP. The EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 recognises the value of semi-natural grasslands. The decline of this system threatens both the habitat and the cultural heritage. Projects like GrazeLIFE advocate for grazing as a tool for wildfire prevention and biodiversity.
Establishment of pasturing communities or cooperatives can legalise and revitalise commons management. Conservation grazing using traditional breeds helps maintain habitats and is supported by agri-environmental payments. Ecomuseums can interpret the social history of the gmajna. Shepherd schools can train new practitioners in animal husbandry and land management. Legal advocacy is often needed to recognise commons in national land eligibility systems.
Sources:
https://www.bed.hr/en/pobr.html
https://www.commonlandsnet.org/demo/13
https://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/management/index_en.htm
The story you have just read is an authentic record of an elder’s experiences who participated in the HER[AI]TAGE project. While the content is original, the text may have been lightly edited for optimal clarity, flow, and readability. The accompanying visuals and audio recording were created responsibly with AI technology to enrich the storytelling experience while preserving the foundational authenticity of the presented story.
AI tools used: Google Gemini via Google AI Studio.