Municipality Zažablje is a small local self-administration unit located in the Lower Neretva region, in the northern part of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County. Based on the sum of indicators set forth by the development index of the Law on Regional Development of the Republic of Croatia, this area is of pronouncedly weak socio-economic development. Negative demographic changes, which began due to various processes in the second half of the 20th century, do not exhibit signs of slowdown and have called into question the very survival of the traditional way of life of local inhabitants. This thesis analyzes the key reasons that led to the current situation in the municipality. It also considers the possibility of establishing an ecomuseum that would communicate the unique homeland identity of the local community and its numerous heritage sites. The main premise of the paper is that acquired knowledge of heritage management and heritage – as a specific phenomenon of modernity – can be constructively used as a driver of development of neglected areas. Therefore, all concrete proposals are based on the conceptual principle of sustainable and wise use of natural and cultural heritage resources. The inspiration for these proposals is derived from the groundwork laid by foremost ecomuseum emancipators and theoretical considerations of museologists – adherents of the New Museology movement.