3 Development and Protection of Water …
39
this context, the implementation of the principles of sustainable development is the
most important in protected areas. The highest priority needs to be the deceleration of
damage to natural landscapes and the biosphere generated by human impact as well as
the reduction of the number of disruptions to natural water circulation including major
changes in surface runoff patterns, infiltration, and evaporation. Decisions made at
the local level are the key to reaching strategic goals described in EU directives and
national laws and programs.
3.3 Sustainable Development
The last few decades have seen rapid economic development including development
of water areas on the World. Frequently irresponsible human actions have led to the
emergence of major threats to the natural environment and man himself. The current
global trend is to introduce sustainable development wherever possible [11]. This
is an economic doctrine that permits quality of life based on current development
levels. It also assumes it is possible to have the type of development that allows
current generations to meet their needs, but without making it difficult for future
generations to meet their needs. In order for this proper form of development to
become a reality, the international community has been struggling for the last five
decades to create solutions that would help humanity develop while at the same time
maintaining a key supply of natural capital, without which future generations may
not survive. The very concept of sustainable development became widely recognized
following the publication of a report by the World Commission on the Environment
and Development in 1987. This report focused on the need to link economic goals
with social goals (Fig. 3.2) and made a note of the fact that human society has reached
a development level that is sustainable given proper management practices.
This type of development model assumes a certain level of awareness of the
connection between economic growth, concern both for the natural and manufactured environment, and the quality of life including human health. It also assumes
a certain type of relationship between the aforesaid “components.” In Poland the
most commonly accepted definition of sustainable development is that of a socioeconomic system that integrates political, economic, and social actions with a focus
on ecological balance and permanence of fundamental environmental processes in
order to assure that both current and future generations will be able to meet their
basic needs.
3.4 Protected Areas in Poland
The Nature 2000 program covers 21% of Poland’s territory. This includes 817 habitat
areas and 142 bird protection areas (Fig. 3.3). Nature 2000 areas are not closed areas.
In contrast to popular opinion, Nature 2000 areas are not characterized solely by
39
this context, the implementation of the principles of sustainable development is the
most important in protected areas. The highest priority needs to be the deceleration of
damage to natural landscapes and the biosphere generated by human impact as well as
the reduction of the number of disruptions to natural water circulation including major
changes in surface runoff patterns, infiltration, and evaporation. Decisions made at
the local level are the key to reaching strategic goals described in EU directives and
national laws and programs.
3.3 Sustainable Development
The last few decades have seen rapid economic development including development
of water areas on the World. Frequently irresponsible human actions have led to the
emergence of major threats to the natural environment and man himself. The current
global trend is to introduce sustainable development wherever possible [11]. This
is an economic doctrine that permits quality of life based on current development
levels. It also assumes it is possible to have the type of development that allows
current generations to meet their needs, but without making it difficult for future
generations to meet their needs. In order for this proper form of development to
become a reality, the international community has been struggling for the last five
decades to create solutions that would help humanity develop while at the same time
maintaining a key supply of natural capital, without which future generations may
not survive. The very concept of sustainable development became widely recognized
following the publication of a report by the World Commission on the Environment
and Development in 1987. This report focused on the need to link economic goals
with social goals (Fig. 3.2) and made a note of the fact that human society has reached
a development level that is sustainable given proper management practices.
This type of development model assumes a certain level of awareness of the
connection between economic growth, concern both for the natural and manufactured environment, and the quality of life including human health. It also assumes
a certain type of relationship between the aforesaid “components.” In Poland the
most commonly accepted definition of sustainable development is that of a socioeconomic system that integrates political, economic, and social actions with a focus
on ecological balance and permanence of fundamental environmental processes in
order to assure that both current and future generations will be able to meet their
basic needs.
3.4 Protected Areas in Poland
The Nature 2000 program covers 21% of Poland’s territory. This includes 817 habitat
areas and 142 bird protection areas (Fig. 3.3). Nature 2000 areas are not closed areas.
In contrast to popular opinion, Nature 2000 areas are not characterized solely by