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The article tackles the issue of the identification of relics and type of transformations in the rural cultural landscape of Warmia and Masuria, which took place as a result of the depopulation of localities due to the course and consequences of World War II. The incorporation of the southern part of East Prussia into Poland in 1945 initiated a number of social, economic, and cultural changes. Above all, the region was affected by huge migratory movements. These started with the hurried escape of the local civilian population fleeing from the Red Army that conquered the area in the winter of 1944-1945. Subsequently, the displacement of the German people and the unstable political situation that made it difficult to maintain habitation contributed to the depopulation of hundreds of villages, manor houses, foresters' lodges, and small settlements. Today, in Poland's incorporated part of former East Prussia, there are about 788 abandoned localities. The extent to which the rural landscape has changed as a result of the total depopulation of hundreds of settlement units has not yet been determined. The purpose of the research was to diagnose the processes that occurred in the material structure of the landscape of Warmia and Masuria after the continuity of habitation had been interrupted, based on data collected due to on-site prospections, searches, and spatial analyses. The elaboration presents possibilities for identifying transformations that occur after depopulation on the basis of the results of multifaceted spatial analyses carried out with the use of GIS tools. Particularly noteworthy is the use of detailed elevation data obtained from airborne laser scanning, which data largely condition not only identification of surface relics but also the degree of degradation of rural structures. The issues concerning the diagnosis of transformations are discussed using, as an example, the study of one of the depopulated localities - Bartki - a former settlement that lies in Olecko County (Warmia-Masuria Province). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper tackles problems associated with the attitudes of local communities and tourists towards landscape parks. The study is based on the results of questionnaire surveys conducted in all landscape parks located in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship among local residents (N=2000) and tourists (N=1077). The surveys demonstrated great support for landscape parks, both among local residents and tourists. The respondents noticed their positive effect on the quality of life and the development of tourism. Sadly, the knowledge on such protected areas was rather poor. Few tourists visited a specific area because of it being protected as a landscape park, as most them were not aware of this fact at all. Respondents from both groups hardly recognised landscape parks as institutions and had never heard of the activities undertaken by the Complex of Landscape Parks of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship. The study subjects usually declared their willingness to improve their knowledge by getting involved in educational events organised by the Complex and one in four of them declared their readiness to join in activities for the benefit of the landscape parks studied. The domination of approving attitudes, combined with the declared interest in educational projects and the relatively high willingness to act for the benefit of the parks, creates a very favourable climate for the functioning of the Complex as an institution. These conditions should foster the process of building cooperation with local residents, developing initiatives integrating local residents and tourists around activities undertaken for the benefit of the parks, as well as undertaking actions strengthening the brand of the Complex of Landscape Parks of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship as an active entity, having a real impact upon the protection, promotion, and sustainable development of areas covered by its activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this theoretical work is to systemize and synthesize selected issues related to the approach to landscape. Presented here are: 1) selected holistic approaches to the cultural landscape, with particular attention paid to the added value of the current approach; 2) the rationale behind the devastated landscape being assigned to a separate category, rather than considered under the "cultural landscape" heading - and the essence of the associated typological separateness, as a logical inference from the interaction of the anthropogenic and natural systems in the formation of landscape properties, which emphasises the disappearance of cultural patterns as a devastated landscape is created; 3) an outline of research themes pertaining to landscape connectivity and permeability, as well as inter-penetration, with parallel depiction of substantive premises underpinning a somewhat different treatment of these properties. It is ascertained here that the current approach to the cultural landscape represents a degree of renewal, but above all a significant deepening and updating (in the last 20 years especially), with significant added value brought to the way in which the landscape is researched and perceived. According to this article's authors, such key changes in the perception of the cultural landscape include: 1) the landscape coming to be treated as a very important element to the wellbeing of society as a whole, as well as its individual members; 2) the person being transformed in role from observer either uninvolved or engaged consciously to only a limited extent, into the human being inherent to landscape creation; 3) the cultural landscape being incorporated into the legal system and policies; 4) a more holistic approach being taken to protection and management, with traditional and common landscapes taken more account of; 5) broad consideration being extended to the interaction between the physical landscape and the sensory space present in that landscape's perception and 6) the extension of the interdisciplinary approach by the transdisciplinary. Given the progressive withdrawal of the term natural landscape, and also taking account of the category of cultural landscape and the level of anthropogenic pressure, the authors propose the division of the landscape into 3 categories: primary, cultural and devastated. This denotes an intentional separation and distinguishing of the devastated landscape, with the addition of this category justified in terms of the disappearance of cultural patterns that the formation of such a landscape entails. Within the cultural landscape, it is proposed that there be a division into the quasi-natural, semi-natural and transformed sub-types. Despite objections arising in regard to the holistic approach to the understanding of such a complex matter as the cultural landscape, the solutions referred to have to be seen as ones in use worldwide, with the transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary nature ensuring that results yield a very wide spectrum of information. In the coming years, rapid transformation of space will combine with further demographic development, climate change, and inevitably increased pressure on the environment, to ensure a further development of interest in the landscape. There would thus be a need for even more in-depth, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research into complex interactions ongoing within the landscape system, with many scientific disciplines having to be integrated to that end. This will enforce even more precise valorisation of resources and potentials as well as less complicated and hence easier to use audit methodologies. Current landscape audit of the Polish space can be considered as the first stage, very important from the point of view of landscape policy, of application activities and an innovative tool inter alia providing for strengthened social participation. For inherent in landscape protection, the landscape economy, and landscape management and planning are rights enjoyed by each person as creator of the landscape - as well as associated obligations - with these inter alia arising as landscape is treated as a material and immaterial good that each society has as its natural and cultural heritage; and with its key role to play in improving quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Springs are objects of natural environment, which are studied by different scientific disciplines: geography, hydrology, hydrogeology, hydrochemistry, hydrobiology, ecology, environmental protection, landscape architecture, touring, archeology and ethnography. These objects, in both the past and the present, were of a great importance to man, who, in different ways and very willingly, used the clean water flowing out and the surrounding environment. Springs, giving rise to streams, which feed into larger rivers, have great scientific, economic, natural, landscape, cultural and even therapeutic values. They have been protected from devastation and pollution for centuries, mainly due to the rational and often iconic perception of them. They were and still are objects of mystification resulting from the assignment of miraculous properties to their water and fantastic legends and historical events to places where they flow out. The question of the origin of water coming from springs has always been vividly discussed. It has contributed to both the development of natural sciences and to the creation of fantastic theories pointing to a specific "power" of these places and healing properties of discharging water. Interesting descriptions of springs that draw people's attention have appeared in many travel experience stories, which brought them fame. Many springs have become places of worship, being famous for the descriptions of their healing abilities, related myths and fantastic phenomena, which additionally increased the desire to feel their "spirit". The area of Poland is already quite well recognized in the aspect of springs. The knowledge about Polish springs has definitely increased in recent decades, mainly as a result of research conducted at all academic centers of the country, as well as thanks to the work on consecutive charts of the Hydrographic Map of Poland. The oldest information about springs in Poland can be found in historical records as well as in information and descriptions prepared for the needs of mining and balneology. Specialist publications and monographic views on springs and other groundwater outflows appeared in the middle of the 18th century. The springs of Małopolska were recognized at earliest. In the second half of the 20th century scientific works on the springs of the Tatras were published, followed by descriptions of the Carpathians, the Sudetes and the uplands: Kraków-Wieluñ, Miechów, Lublin as well as the Nida Basin. Springs of the £ódŸ Region were also examined. At the end of the 20th and the beginning of the 21st century numerous issues, documenting the occurrence of springs and other outflows in the lowlands and lakelands of Poland, were also published. Despite the quite intensive research and passing years, the number of springs in Poland is still not known, not even estimated. Few outflows are monitored continuously. There are many reasons for this, including the disappearance and devastation of many objects because of anthropopressure and low interest in springs in hydrological and hydrogeological communities. It is probably due to the fact that springs operate at the boundary of the surface and the underground phase of the water cycle. In spite of this, dozens of springs in Poland have been studied in detail, in terms of hydrology, hydrochemistry, hydrobiology and water management. The place of natural outflow of groundwater with the accompanying depression and water discharge stream creates the spring niche, and, in a wider perspective, the spring zone (the spring area). Such areas occur in various topographical, hydrographic and hydrogeological conditions. The way the water flows out as well as its dynamics and properties are also diversified. Springs waters, usually of a very good quality, have been used by humans for their needs for a long time. Their intakes form an important part of the water management infrastructure. At the same time, the sites of water outflow are important elements of natural and cultural landscapes, enriching them with new values and forms. Springs are often the objects of cultural and religious heritage and are tightly linked to the history of a given place or have a particular significance to the local community. They are sites willingly visited by tourists and recreationists. They provide the basis for the development of balneology and touring, as well as for the cult associated with the symbolism of water or religion. Springs are important elements of geographical environment, they are also objects possessing unique scientific, landscape and water management characteristics. Due to their high susceptibility to anthropopressure, related to the frequent devastation of outflow sites and degradation of water resources, it is necessary to implement systematic and, nowadays, even urgent activities to preserve these places in their possibly natural state. Such protection should cover the place of outflow of underground water, the spring niche, as well as the groundwater basin. This task can be implemented by local communities, via administrative or ecological education, adequate to the course of actions and the significance of the local impact on the environment. In the case of particularly valuable springs, the establishment of protection zones, which would be similar to the preservation zones of public wells, should also be taken into account. However, to achieve this, it is necessary to recognize, calibrate and, above all, provide an inventory of all valuable springs in Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the results of research devoted to the morphogenesis and evolution of the rural structure of the village of Wielenin in Uniejów commune. The historical-geographical analysis also includes the identification of the relics of older spatial structures of settlement in the contemporary cultural landscape. For the purpose of this study, an examination was carried out of source materials, including historical cartographic materials, kept in the Central Archive of Old Documents in Warsaw and in the State Archive in Łódź. In the first part of the article a morphological analysis of the village is conducted against the background of the history of settlement in the Middle Ages and in modern times. The next part presents the development of the spatial structure of Wielenin from the beginning of the 19th century to 1945. The final part deals with the present layout of the village and the extent of preservation of the old spatial structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]