<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Contemporary rural landscapes in Poland are being changed intensively and adversely. These changes lead to landscape disharmony, spatial disorder, the blurring of individual and specific features and disruption to the ecological equilibrium. This article aims to present general rules for the optimization of rural landscapes. It discusses the causes and consequences of unfavourable changes within Poland’s rural landscapes which constitute a threat to their sustainable development. The authors attempt to identify the major factors to be considered in taking steps aimed at landscape optimization. Landscape equilibrium may be assessed through the sustainable development dimensions: ethical, ecological, social, economic, technical, political and legal. Landscape optimization consists in maintaining the balance within these dimensions.</p></abstract>

Contemporary rural landscapes in Poland are being changed intensively and adversely. These changes lead to landscape disharmony, spatial disorder, the blurring of individual and specific features and disruption to the ecological equilibrium. This article aims to present general rules for the optimization of rural landscapes. It discusses the causes and consequences of unfavourable changes within Poland’s rural landscapes which constitute a threat to their sustainable development. The authors attempt to identify the major factors to be considered in taking steps aimed at landscape optimization. Landscape equilibrium may be assessed through the sustainable development dimensions: ethical, ecological, social, economic, technical, political and legal. Landscape optimization consists in maintaining the balance within these dimensions.

The Optimization of Rural Landscape in the Light of the Idea of Sustainable Development – The Example of Poland

Department of Regional Geography and Tourism, University of Silesia, Sosnowiec,

Quaestiones Geographicae

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Contemporary rural landscapes in Poland are being changed intensively and adversely. These changes lead to landscape disharmony, spatial disorder, the blurring...

The Optimization of Rural Landscape in the Light of the Idea of Sustainable Development – The Example of Poland

Published Online: Oct 18, 2016

Page range: 61 - 73

Received: May 12, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/quageo-2016-0027

Keywords
rural landscapes, landscape optimization, sustainable development, rural heritage

© 2016 Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The Optimization of Rural Landscape in the Light of the Idea of Sustainable Development – The Example of Poland

Published Online: Oct 18, 2016

Page range: 61 - 73

Received: May 12, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/quageo-2016-0027

Keywordsrural landscapes, landscape optimization, sustainable development, rural heritage

© 2016 Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
rural landscapes, landscape optimization, sustainable development, rural heritage