Adam Senetra, Agnieszka Szczepańska, Monika Wasilewicz-Pszczółkowska

The correlations between natural and anthropogenic land–use patterns as a measure of sustainable regional development

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Abstract

Warmia and Mazury is one of the five Polish regions to have been included in the "Development of Eastern Poland" Operational Program (PORPW) for 2007–2013. The PORPW is the only supra-regional program in the European Union that promotes social and economic growth in Poland's most undeveloped regions in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. Sustainable development means that economic growth should enhance the quality of the natural environment, in particular by protecting natural resources. The economic growth of a region is inextricably linked with changes in land-use patterns, in particular the steady increase of anthropogenized areas. In line with sustainable development goals, areas with the most natural land cover should be entitled to special protection. The correlations between changes in land cover patterns could be a measure of progress towards sustainable development. This paper investigates changes in the land cover of developed and urbanized areas (strongly anthropogenic territories), forests and protected areas (sites with the most natural land cover). A spatial analysis has been carried out in the Region of Warmia and Mazury at the level of municipalities, the lowest tier of administration in Poland. Changes in land cover patterns were investigated in 2007–2013, which is the time frame of the PORPW. The results of the analysis will be used to determine whether economic growth in the examined region fulfils sustainable development criteria.

Keywords:sustainable development; land use; forest; protected areas.