The paper outlines the genesis, the subject of protection and criteria of delimitation of ecological sites - e.g. small areas of unique values of natural environment. The author presents procedures of their creation (from natural inventory to registration) and institutions participating in this process. The paper discusses management principles of the ecological sites management and their link to planning documents - based on bans, orders and limitations. Ecological sites are not productively used and their management depends on the ownership of land on which they are situated (state, commune, private owner). It is generally difficult to obtain owner's consent for the creation of such site and therefore the majority of objects is owned by the state, especially by the forest district administration. The cases of purchasing or leasing ecologically valuable sites by the social organizations also occur. The observations prove, that ecological sites are not always registered in land cadastre and in local plans.In conclusion author postulates: - dissemination of ecological sites as the form of precious nature protection, - observing of the obligation of their recording, - creation of ecological sites monitoring and delegating their management to the nature protection services. The ecological sites are of the intrinsic value for ...
The paper presents opinions concerning the influence of the electrical supply lines on the environment and people - on the basis of bibliographic data. It presents: the influence (thermal, non-thermal and anatomical effects), applied norms (electric and magnetic components, level of radioelectric disturbances, noise), confrontation of the opinions of the authors who perceive danger to the human habitat (so called "pessimists") with the opinions of "optimists" who don't seem to notice this threat.The author determined the influence of power lines on the environment in the phase of their construction (damages and losses of land, local deforestation) and also in the phase of their exploitation (noice, radioelectric disturbances, barriers of animal migration).Contemporary science is unable to determine clearly electromagnetic field intensity absolutely safe for man. It is necessary to carry out further research allowing, among others, to distinguish temporary negative effects on health from permanent damages.The great role is ascribed to the rational location of power lines from the viewpoint of human habitat protection, based on the profound ecophysiographic studies. ...
The paper outlines preliminary assessment of woods and tree plantings influence on the value of arable lands. Basing on the rich bibliography of the problem and own observation, the author states among others, that: – in the close neighbourhood of agricultural – forest border the yields of plants distinctly decrease, – as the distance from the tree wall increases – yields improve, however on the lands with water deficit, with intensive soil erosion the general balance is positive; on the other lands is rather negative, 14 – negative influence of woods on plant yields in the zone of their close contact depends on their mutual location and appears in the distance up to 15-tree heights (15 h). The proposed algorithm comprises correcting coefficients (percentages in relation to the basic value of arable lands) in the neighbourhood of woods relate to the areas with water deficit in soils with regard to distance and geographical orientation – table 1; and to the areas of differentiated soil quality and contrasting aspect of slopes (S and N) – table 2. The decrease of agricultural real estates value is observed in the areas of water deficit in the distance zones up to 2 h, however ...
The paper outlines place and role of various kinds of land melioration and reclamation in the counteraction of negative results of grounds degrading processes. The system of works serving land reform consists of: water meliorations, agrotechnical meliorations and fitomeliorations (the so called agricultural meliorations), forest and antierosion meliorations (the so called special meliorations) and land reclamation. The identification of land reform operations on the background of their systematics has been done, basing on: type of works, aim of operations, character of operations and their technology. Basing on the five groups of essential reform operations (regulation of: land cover, relief, water conditions, improvement and restoration of soils, as well as treeplanting, shrub-planting, sodding) – -the degree of complexity of separate types of works has been estimated – distinguishing four categories: one-group category (separate types of agricultural meliorations), two-group category (anti-erosion meliorations), three-group category (forest meliorations) and complex category (land reclamation – comprising all 5 groups). The place of land reclamation in the system of reform operations has been estimated, among others by statement, that it constitutes the collection of various operations serving degraded lands restitution. Then, the range of reform works in the six basic land reclamation directions has been defined. ...
The paper outlines problems of rural areas shaping in the EU against the background of permanent and sustainable development concept. The principles and several steps of common agricultural policy, structural and regional policies have been characterized. It has been stated that these policies are strictly bound with each other and they are subject to evolution. Agricultural policy bases on the price – income policy and structural policy stimulation, structural policy concerns the influence on production factors assisting changes in rural areas, and regional policy stimulates reorganization of agriculture, multifunctional development of rural areas and diminishing of negative differences between regions. The aim of these activities is the creation of value and economically sustainable position of rural areas, especially as an environment for living, working, recreation in natural conditions, as well as positive development of agricultural structures. In the last decades the UE gained intrinsic progress in the LFA reduction – which especially concerns the regions of Ireland and Portugal. Sustainable shaping of environment and rural land management is being implemented by the system of spatial planning, in the range of agricultural land management, village renewal and ecological – landscape planning. The concept of sustainable and permanent development, which finds its ...
The paper outlines some chosen Polish programmes of rural areas shaping, developed in a few recent years against the background of permanent and sustainable development. Development of the village and agriculture in the EU is based mainly on the common agricultural policy, structural policy and regional policy. Agricultural policy may be defined as price - profit policy and supporting structural policy while structural policy consists in influencing production factors which stimulate the changes on rural areas. Regional policy supports restructuring of agriculture, multifunctional development of rural areas and balancing unfavourable differences between regions. The aim of those activities is creating the value and an economically sustained position of rural areas, especially as a place of living, working and relaxation in natural environment and taking into consideration a sensible development of agricultural structures as well. Thanks to a consequent policy of sustainable development in the recent dozen of years the EU has reached a considerable progress in LFA (Less Favoured Areas) reduction. The performed survey of chosen strategies of village and agriculture development worked out in Poland in the years 2001-2006 shows that in most cases they refer to Lisbon Strategy and have various range: from a partial reference to rural ...
The paper outlines the chosen problems of technical infrastructure, settlement and environmental protection – included in the National Strategic Framework of Reference (NSRO) for the years 2007–2013. Transport infrastructure of Poland is backward and underinvested. The length of highways in 2006 amounted to 674 km, and the express ways – 257 km. Bad condition of railway infrastructure and rolling stock constitutes the main problem of railway transport. The length of railway lines under exploitation decreased in the years 2000–2005 from 22,6 thousand km to 20,3 thousand km, and the railway network density from 7,2 km /100 km2 to 6,5 km/100 km2, however it still exceeds the mean value for the EU countries by 5 km/100km2. Energetic infrastructure bases almost entirely (92%) on the non – renewable sources mainly fuels, and is thus one of the main sources of environmental pollution. The technical condition of the country energetic network, as well as gas pipes, do not threaten the safety of energetic supply for receivers. For the last ten – odd years environmental infrastructure has been developing in a proper way. One may observe the increase of the protected lands area (at present 32,5% of the total country area); a significant progress ...
The paper attempts at evaluating the influence of certain factors (slope gradients and the length of fields, the granulometric composition of soil, the existence of terraces, and the ploughing direction) on the intensity of water erosion (annual soil losses) determined with the USLE method, exemplified by a mountain village of Konina. Konina is situated on the northern slopes of the Gorce Mountains (the range of the Western Beskidy Mountains) in the communes of Niedźwiedź, at about 500 – 1200 metres above sea level. This area is dominated by brown soils formed from sedimentary rocks (sandstones, mudstones, marls) with a clay soil texture: silty clay loam, silty clay, clay loam. Average annual temperature ranges between 6–8oC, precipitation – between 850-950 mm. The intensity of erosion was examined for arable lands, which constitute 63% of all agricultural lands. Arable fields are situated in areas where the slope gradient ranges between 0-5%, at the bottom of the Konina river valley and on mountain ridges, to 40% on steep slopes. The majority of fields are characterised by short slope lines, 10–30 metres on average, 100 metres at the most. The article distinguishes 4 land erosion models, for which regression equations have been calculated. The ...
The paper presents a preliminary assessment of the influence of chosen natural-agricultural elements (concerning soils, agroclimate, forests’ neighbourhood) on the value of arable lands. The review of the above mentioned parameters and their effect on the increase or decrease of the yields of agricultural plants has also been presented. The author proposed coefficients correcting the basic value of ground plots, established by the mixed approach method with the use of valuation indices comprising: degree of soil compactness, degree of soil culture, water conditions and erosion hazard (k1 to k4), unfavourable agroclimatic conditions (k5) and neighbourhood of woods (k6). The corrective coefficients to the formula of the arable land value (Wgo) depend on soil classes (and attached to them standard parameters) and they range, for various soil features, from –0,10 per one degree of erosion hazard to 0,05 per one degree of soil compactness, soil culture, or per one group of water conditions categories. For the agroclimate they range depending on the type of plants, from –0,18 do 0,and for various conditions of forest neighbourhood with arable lands from –0,30 to 0,07. Basic data concerning natural – agricultural features of arable lands, except for reviews and land investigations, can be obtained ...
The article outlines certain issues regarding land management within protected wildlife areas, such as national parks, nature reserves, landscape protection areas, NATURA 2000 areas, documentation sites, ecological areas, natural and scenic complexes. It discusses the regulations governing the establishment and management of such areas, the restrictions on land use, the principles of their economic use, as well as nature protection aims within the studies of spatial development, at the local and regional level. Ecologically protected areas in Poland represent a significant natural potential with a rich variety of nature forms and compose the structures of the ECONET network or the World Network of Biosphere Reserves. These areas frequently neighbour or surround each other. Sometimes, they are exposed to adverse influences from outside (the industry, the cities, transport), excessive tourism, or fire hazard. The existing restrictions and regulations regarding nature resources management, incorporated into conservation plans drawn up for national and landscape parks, nature reserves, or for other protected areas, become integral elements of local spatial development plans. The owner of a property situated in a transition (buffer) zone or in an protected area can demand this property to be repurchased or exchanged if there exist significant restrictions or difficulties concerning ...
The article outlines the issues of rural land degradation and protection and presents the system of rural landscape creation, with particular considera-tion for planning instruments and implementation measures. It also defines the possi-bilities of rural landscape transformation within the scope of rural areas devel-opment. Agricultural landscape degradation mainly concerns the deterioration of soil quality, water regimes, the reduction of space suitable for particular crops, etc. The author distinguishes two interconnected fields jointly forming the idea of cultural landscape creation: protection (conservation, maintenance of par-ticular features) and shaping which involves landscape planning and management. Protection and shaping of agricultural areas, beside built-up areas and forests, form a subsystem of rural landscape creation. Spatial planning (particularly local planning) and rural areas develop-ment form the basic tools of rural landscape creation. On the other hand, the most significant measures of landscape creation involve soil sanation activi-ties, which improve their functional value (agricultural and anti-erosion meliora-tions, recultivation, land consolidations and exchanges). Apart from improving spatial and organisational conditions of agricul-tural production, comprehensive rural areas development activities generally im-prove land relief and soil quality (erosion reduction), landscape and aesthetic as-sets (woodlots), or microclimatic conditions. The past decade has brought a significant increase in the ...
Natura 2000 areas embrace approx. 21.5 thousand special habitat protection areas (12.8% of the EU territory) and approx. 4.8 thousand special bird protection areas (10% of the EU territory). Polish National Agri-environmental Scheme with its 9 work packages, part of the Rural Development Policy for the years 2007–2013, helps to improve Polish natural environment and constitutes a significant contribution to the realisation of Natura 2000 goals. For example, an agri-environmental scheme realised in Austria as part of the activities for the protection of the Lafnitz River cultural landscape (extensive meadow management) helps to safeguard natural assets of this river and riparian areas. Brenne regional national park in France introduced so-called sustainable agriculture contracts involving extensive grazing, hunting, fish farming, etc. An integrated agriculture management project for marshy areas situated in the southern part of Andalusia (reduction of agrotechnical measures, ban on weed abatement burning) is a Spanish example of activities for the protection of valuable ecosystems. In Poland, current agri-environmental schemes realised for the years 2007–2013 are based upon the principle of good and environment-friendly agricultural policies. A small island Stora Karlsö next to Gotland (Sweden) is implementing a restoration programme for its grassland open landcape: the ...
The paper reviews and briefly characterizes documents devoted to the implementation of sustainable development policies in Polish communes within environment protection and shaping issues. The analysis embraces several obligatory documents drawn up by Polish communes, such as: ecophysiographic studies, environment protection programmes, waste management plans, energy supply plans, ecological education plans, studies of determinants and directions of spatial management, local spatial plans. It also deals with other optional documents: natural resource inventories, development strategies, local develop-ment plans and ecological policies. Moreover, based on specialized literature, the paper outlines the condition and quality of studies drawn up in Polish communes. Out of the researched in-ventory of communes, approx. 23% have developed natural resource inventories, 28% have created ecophysiographic studies, and nearly 77% – studies of deter-minants. Active participation of communes in the process of eco-development planning varies in particular parts of Poland: most active communes are situated in the provinces of Lublin, Lower Silesia, and Mazovia; whilst the least active in the provinces of Łódź, Opole, and Podlasie. Most common flaws of ecophysiographic studies, which act as the basic source of information for the needs of eco-development, involve: inaccurate geo-complex delimitation, methodological drawbacks regarding the evaluation of anthropopressure resistance, ...
Thuringia is one of the leading countries in Germany in the range of eco-development principles implementation and proecological changes.The paper outlines the chosen elements of present sozological problematics of Thuringia - protected areas, wildcat protection and the Green Belt.Various forms of nature and landscape protection comprise together 71% of total country area.In the range of the protection of disappearing population of the wildcat - the special ecological corridors are being built between the Thuringian Forest and larger forest complexes. The Green Belt of Thuringia (constituting part of the European Green Belt) comprising a boarder belt 763 km long - is the subject of maintenance measures shaping its natural, historical and utilisation values. In this Belt numerous local projects concerning biotopes shaping, protected areas making, matching the requirements of agriculture, recreation and nature are being intro-duced - with spatial planning, rural land management and village renewal. ...
The paper outlines the history of village renewal in Thuringia, its up to date directions, institutions involved in the integrated development of rural areas and tasks to be realised, scale and effects. The highest cost is paid for revitalisation of road network, water melioration, and reconstruction of building structure. Imposing achievements of Thuringia in the range of village renewal are conditioned by proper level of financial support of activities, existance of highly specialized in-stitutions and active social support. ...
Some terms applied in the practice of land management in Poland raise doubts of lexical and legal nature.The paper deals with such words as "rolny", "rolniczy" - both translated into English as "agricultural" and such terms as "grunt rolny", "użytek rolny" - in English "agricultural land", etc.The gist of the article is practically untranslatable into English.In conclusion the author proposes to obey strictly definitions contained in legal documents, which are substantially coherent, though bearing some semantic faults. ...
