Search

Landscape management requires taking the needs and aspirations of local communities into account. Hence, social participation is of great importance. Perception and appreciated values determine the opinions and attitudes of residents. This may be crucial for the effectiveness of the implementation of landscape protection tasks. The research goal an attempt to determine the readiness of residents of selected villages of the Żywiecki poviat to participate in landscape activities. In the study area, there is an increase in the share of residents in local activities, including pro-landscape ones. This can be associated with a strong relationship of belonging and attachment. The challenge is to educate people in order to shape the cognitive component and strengthen attitudes and translate them into active participation in public life.

The equal treatment of environmental, social and economic problems in the concept of sustainable development is often understood improperly as the need to subordinate economic development to the demands of the environmental protection. This concept should take individuals and social groups into account, too. The article is a summary of views on the social participation in the context of the sustainable development concept. Its implementation should be based on neoendogenous mechanisms of development. Their essence is the stakeholders’ participation in forming and applying the development strategy in cooperation with other social actors, both local and external partners. Social capital resources are an important source of development potentials. The development of the whole country is not possible without the participation of local communities. The chances of creating conditions for sustainable development will be very difficult despite the available grants, funds and programs.