Analysis of changes in the surface area of ecological land in Lubelskie Voivodship in the years 2004-2016

The aim of this paper was to determine the direction and extent of changes in the size of ecological land use in rural areas in the Lubelskie Voivodeship during the implementation of three Rural Development Programmes (RDPs) in the years 2004-2006, 2007-2013 and 2014-2020 (still in progress) and presentation of the RDP’s method of action for nature protection. The changes in the surface area of ecological land were assessed on the basis of an analysis of aggregate voivodship lists of the Land and Building register covering the years 2004-2016. Detailed analyses were carried out taking into account changes in the cadastral area of ecological land in rural areas in the Lubelskie Voivodeship. The investigations were carried out for 20 districts located in the Lubelskie Voivodeship, with the exclusion of four urban districts. The study showed that, in the years 2004–2016, the area of ecological land generally increased by 25% in the Lubelskie Voivodeship. However, the rate of growth was not stable: in the years 2012-2014 there was a 115 ha decrease in the area of this land. The largest changes in the area of ecological land concerned the 1st and 7th land registration groups, i.e. land belonging to the State Treasury, excluding land leased out for perpetual usufruct, and land owned by natural persons. Ecological land in the Lubelskie Voivodeship emerged mainly as a result of conversion of wasteland and various land areas.