Summary:

This article presents the analysis on the direction and range of changes in rural areas utilization. It suggests actions to minimize the decrease in agricultural and arable land on better soils.
The investigations was conducted on three levels:
- National level. Basing on 1990, 2000 i 2006 CORINE Land Cover data, and GUS data from the last 40 years.
- Regional level. Basing on the data from podlaskie and warmińsko-mazurskie voivodeships.
- Community level. Basing on the data from 3 communities located in małopolskie, lubuskie and lubelskie voivodeships.
The results of investigations allow to draw the following conclusions:
- Due to CORINE Land Cover data, the annual changes of ground utilization in Poland covers about 25 thousands of ha (0,08-0,1% of total area).
- It was found, that in the last 40 years, the rate of transforming agricultural ground into non-agricultural ones is decreasing, but the coefficient of good and very good grounds (I to III class) is growing.
- The total agricultural area was shrinking in all investigated communities, supplying building areas, communication areas, forests and waters. The coefficient of transformation (in 30-years period) varies from about 3% of total area - for pure agricultural communities, to about 9% - for industrial ones or those located near a town or a city.
- To reduce the rate of loss of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes, the fees, established, should be increased.