Jarosław Taszakowski

A new approach to calculate the land fragmentation indicators taking into account the adjacent plots

Land fragmentation is a phenomenon which constitutes one of the biggest obstacles to profitable agricultural production. Measurable estimation of this phenomenon is possible by a number of known indicators, based on the surface area of parcels in the given area, their location in space and belonging to individual farms. This method of calculation of the indicators is inaccurate due to the phenomenon of neighbourhood of plots which belong to the same owners. For the purposes of calculating the ratios of actual fragmentation of land, these parcels should be treated as one complex. The article presents a proposal for the adjustment of existing methods of determination of the fragmentation of land indicators, taking into account these phenomena. The object of the research covered area of the voivodeship of Malopolska located in the southern part of Poland. Developed by the authors, method of calculation of land fragmentation indicators, based on complexes of land belonging to the same owners (complexes of plots aggregation), gives very good results in the evaluation of the intensity of the land fragmentation. Obtained in this way, indicator’s land fragmentation represents the real situation on the ground.

Socio-spatial conflicts caused by an unfavourable rural structure and out-of-date Land and Property Register

Abstract This article addresses the issue of conflict situations caused by an out-of-date Land and Property Register (LPR) and the disadvantageous structure of rural areas in southern Poland. In this part of the country, holdings are very fragmented and scattered, made up of a large number of small surface area plots located far from the headquarters of the holding. The aim of the article is to present actions that can help improve rural spatial structure and validity of the land register. The authors have, therefore, analysed the problems that may result in both spatial and social conflicts. The following were analysed in particular: discrepancies between data in the LPR and the existing factual state, plots without access to public roads, property ownership structure, the necessity to regulate property boundaries, and problems with the procedure for taking land out of agricultural production. The article presents both positive and negative effects of the land consolidation and exchange process, modernisation of the Land and Property Register, and their impact on socio-spatial conflicts. Its results indicated that the land consolidation procedure and LPR modernisation have a significant impact on socio-spatial relations in rural areas. It has been found that despite the fact that both these activities may give rise to new disputes in addition to resolving conflicts, the overall balance is positive. It is because more positive aspects of these actions were found than negative consequences.

Determining Consistency of Tillage Direction with Soil Erosion Protection Requirements as The Element of Decision-Making Process in Planning and Applying Land Consolidation

Water erosion is one of the factors which have negative effect on soil productivity. It often leads to irreversible soil degradation, making soil worthless for agricultural activities. One way of preventing water erosion is making the direction of cultivation perpendicular to the direction of rainwater run-off. Matching the direction with the shape of parcels boundaries in small and extended ones is often possible only through changes in the configuration of property boundaries, which is possible only in the process of land consolidation. The article presents methodology of qualifying the areas for changes in boundaries configuration and cultivation direction in view of existing erosion risk. A computation process was suggested that uses, among others, LIDAR data to model the terrain shape precisely as well as cadastral data that defines the geometry of parcels and, resulting from it, the direction of cultivation and form of use. The suggested process includes also the information on the texture of soil upper horizons from soil agricultural maps. The RUSLE erosion model was applied and the computation process took place in ArcGIS environment with the use of dedicated algorithms suggested and implemented to solve the formulated problem. Computations were conducted for test area of several hundred hectares which was characterized by vast diversity of soil types and landforms. The results prove the usefulness of the suggested method as an element of systems that support decision-making processes used in the stage of determining objects chosen for the realization of consolidating processes (including local consolidation, which covers only chosen fragment of a village). They can also be used in the stage of completing detailed plans of parcels distribution in land consolidation process. The importance of the method is particularly seen in the analysis of areas where land fragmentation indices are unfavourable. Especially in these cases, without the reorganization of boundaries, it is impossible to adapt the direction of cultivation to the requirements of protection against erosion.

Environmental Protection Tools in Agricultural Management Works

Land consolidation is a fundamental instrument for agricultural management. It facilitates comprehensive changes in the agricultural, social, and ecological domains. Consolidation and post-consolidation development-related investments are an opportunity to improve living conditions in rural areas, and simultaneously ensure its positive impact on the environment. One of the primary goals of consolidation, directly specified in the Act on land consolidation, is to improve farming conditions. In Poland, consolidation is possible due to EU funds: RDP 2007-2013 and RDP 2014-2020. In order for individual villages to be granted EU funds for consolidation and post-consolidation development under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, their consolidation has to implement actions with positive impact on the environment and the landscape. The goal of this paper is to analyse documentation in the form of assumptions for a land consolidation project enclosed to an RDP 2014-2020 grant application and project information sheets as the basis for environmental impact assessment in the context of detailed presentation of environmental protection solutions that ensure a positive impact of the project on the environment and landscape. The detailed study involved 9 villages in the Malopolskie Voivodeship, which applied for EU grants for land consolidation in the current financial perspective. The paper specifies the existing state of the analysed villages as regards the natural environment, lists agricultural management instruments that have a positive impact on the environment, and demonstrates that planning of actions aimed at environmental protection is a necessary element of assumptions for land consolidation projects.

Preventing and resolving social dissatisfaction in spatial management in rural areas

The paper addresses the issue of dissatisfaction related to spatial management in rural areas illustrated with an example of southern Poland. In this region, the spatial structure of rural areas is poor, which results, e.g., from substantial fragmentation and scattering of land. Additionally, the Land and Property Register, also known as the real property cadastre for the area is not up to date, and fails to meet social expectations, in particular those regarding the ownership title. Being the basis for calculating the property tax, this register should be reliable and regularly updated, which unfortunately is not always the case. These circumstances may often lead to social dissatisfaction. The aim of the paper is to present surveying and legal processes that may influence prevention and resolution of causes of dissatisfaction and, at the same time, improve the spatial structure of rural areas. The authors have analysed the problems that may result in potential dissatisfaction. The results show that there are activities that may limit or prevent disputes. These include such actions as modernisation of the Land and Property Register or the land consolidation and exchange procedure, including the range of negative impact of motorways.