Integrating cultural heritage in the reclamation processes

Aim: Reclamation is a complex and costly process that involves technical and biological activities aimed at restoring degraded areas for specific future uses. The effectiveness of reclamation depends on the chosen direction, which influences whether the land can immediately serve its intended function or requires further development. Beyond environmental benefits, reclamation and development efforts support economic growth, job creation, and improved quality of life, while also contributing to the preservation of cultural heritage and sustainable development. The article presents the results of literature review focusing on answering the following questions: how is cultural heritage linked to the issues of the regeneration of degraded areas and how do different forms of regeneration use cultural heritage to counteract the effects of degradation of given areas? Design / Research methods: A secondary study was conducted focusing on reviewing existing research materials, concentrated on summarizing the obtained data. Conclusions / findings: The concepts of reclamation, rehabilitation, restoration, revitalization, recultivation, and revegetation were explained. The research part focused on four approaches to heritage in the context of revitalization: cultural heritage in areas after natural disasters; cultural heritage in areas damaged by human intervention; preparations for intervention in the event of natural disasters and disasters resulting from human intervention; and cultural heritage as a means/tool ​​facilitating the regeneration of given areas. Originality / value of the article: Materials devoted to the subject of heritage are related to four different aspects. Two of them are associated with the preservation of heritage in degraded areas, the third is related to the group of remedial and preventive actions, and only a small part is devoted to heritage as a tool and its role in revitalization processes. JEL: Q01, Q56, Z10.