The problem examined in this research is how the loss of rural settlements, small towns, villages and farms contributes to changes in rural landscape and how can this change be managed? The survey was conducted in matching locations in Poland, Slovakia, Germany and in the southern part of Cyprus. The research methods were based on the analysis of source materials and on field analyses in the studied regions. Source research included searching for information in a literature on the subject, as well as planning documents, strategies and studies of spatial development conditions. The main causes of the decline of abandoned rural areas are the decrease in population and migration to cities, the intensification of production and the increase in production areas and the change in the nature of the activities of rural homesteads. The results of the research also show that in addition to common trends comprising the transformation of landscapes in rural areas, each of the analyzed regions differs in terms of the degree of adverse changes, the period in which changes were noted and the possibilities to prevent these changes. In order to prepare a village rehabilitation strategy, a comprehensive diagnosis of whole changes is required, in which the state and causes of landscape changes are determined, and possible solutions for halting rural depopulation are foreseen.
The revitalization of small towns is connected with an attempt to find multidirectional solutions to numerous social, economic and spatial problems. It is possible to remove degraded areas and areas with a high risk of social exclusion through coordinated and skillfully planned activities consisting of corrective interventions within these areas and, indirectly, in the whole structure of a small town. There are many studies on improving the quality of life of inhabitants at risk of exclusion in large cities. At the same time, there is a gap in the analyses of this phenomenon in small towns. In this article, we present the results of our observations on changes in the quality and living conditions of residents as a result of social projects implemented as part of the revitalization of marginalized areas in cities associated with the Cittaslow movement. The starting point is to identify the main socioeconomic problems and relate them to the effects of the revitalization activities carried out under the Supralocal Revitalization Program (SLRP). The study analyzed all projects that were a response to social problems in fourteen cities in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship (Poland). It was based on a quantitative assessment of the selected socioeconomic indicators and a qualitative assessment based on interviews with local experts. The results of the research indicate a reduction in unemployment in all the cities covered by the study. On the other hand, the results of the expert interview show that it is not directly influenced by the implemented revitalization projects. According to experts, after revitalization, the crime rate decreased insignificantly and the educational and professional involvement of residents from marginalized areas is still low. The results may give rise to the creation of scenarios to deal with the socioeconomic problems of the analyzed examples and recommendations for the revitalization of other Cittaslow towns in the region as well as small towns in Europe and the world.
In this study, we assess the land cover changes in southwestern Lithuania from 1984 to 2018. These changes were examined using data derived from Landsat 5, Landsat 8, and Sentinel-2 multispectral images. The study area encompasses the Nemunas Delta, which is affected by river-induced floods leading to seasonal variations in water coverage. The water-covered area was found to be quite stable across the years during the dry seasons, i.e., in summer and early autumn. A significant increase in forested areas was observed during the study period (from 15.1% to 19.0% of the total area). During the examined period, the average size of agricultural parcels decreased several times (from approximately 35 ha to approximately 5 ha), which was caused by the transition from socialist to private ownershipbased agricultural practices in the early 1990s. Almost all changes observed had rather positive environmental impacts (for biodiversity and maintenance of wildlife). Positive impacts included the establishment of several new protected territories between analysed periods. Negative impacts included the construction of wind turbines (approximately 50 in the area of study), which were not present at the beginning of the study period and may negatively affect the natural (agricultural and wetland) landscape of the region.
In the present article, an attempt was made to assess the environmental and economic sustainability of Polish and Lithuanian agricultural holdings specializing in animal production. The analysis covers the farms that participated in the FADN in 2006-2012. Assessment accounted for agroecological indicators (share of cereals in crops, stock density) and economic indicators (profitableness of land and labour). Analysis was conducted according to a classification into agricultural holding types: dairy cattle and granivores. In both countries, average stocking density in dairy holdings did not pose a threat to the natural environment. In the case of granivores holdings, such threats were present because standards specified in the code of good agricultural practice were violated significantly. From the perspective of economic equilibrium, holdings from this group achieved a better result than dairy cattle holdings. In Poland during the years 2006-2012, the average income of a family-owned agricultural holding per full-time worker in the family was 56 % greater than in dairy cattle holdings. In the case of Lithuanian holdings, the difference was still greater and amounted to 7 3 % to the benefit of granivores holdings.
The study presenting and analysing the barriers and opportunities for small business development in rural areas of Poland and Lithuania. The scientific problem -how to develop small business in rural areas and what kind of support measures would benefit business developers. Symmetric research in the form of a survey was conducted among 50 researchers-economists from the University of Agriculture in Krakow and in Agricultural Academy of Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas. The research is of a pilot nature and constitute grounds for continuing research into the research issues undertaken.The aim of the study was to identify, evaluate and compare barriers and opportunities for small business development in rural areas of Lithuania and Poland and to propose effective incentives for such kinds of businesses. The main barriers to the development of enterprises in Poland include high pension contributions and a complicated VAT paying system. In Lithuania it was indicated poor economic conditions in rural areas and related unemployment and poverty of some of their inhabitants. In Poland, huge opportunities for the development of entrepreneurship were perceived in the opening-up of eastern markets and support from the European Union's funds. In Lithuania -in professional consulting and the use of aid from the EU.
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