Possibilities for development of regions after mining: restoration of rural environment in the Czech-Saxon borderland

The paper discusses whether it is possible to turn a region after mining activities back to its rural substance. The micro-region Sokolov-East (Northwest Bohemia) was chosen as an example. The region was dramatically impacted by opencast coal mining after WWII. Also the settlement structure was modified. The mining activity still continues. Original state mines were privatised into the arms of local entrepreneurs. Thus, the mining company is interested in support of the local development. It shows that the landscape rehabilitation although very exacting and expensive is the minor problem which could be solved by the collaboration between mining company and regional and local bodies. Social rehabilitation seems to be much more difficult with respect to the special education and psychology of (from a big part immigrant) people and their weak relation to the landscape and localities. Also the improvement of a negative image of the region is a question of big importance