Knowledge resources are one of the most important factors stimulating the development of contemporary rural areas. The aim of this article is to discuss the nature of knowledge and diagnose its transfer, which occurs as a result of interactions between indigenous inhabitants (autochthons, “oldtimers”) and “new” rural inhabitants (allochthons, “newcomers”), and to assess its impact on the development of the rural areas studied. The analysis was conducted on both theoretical and empirical grounds (a case study based on the peripheral village of Wszedzień). This case study is a fragment of broader research conducted as part of the project entitled “Rural-Urban Knowledge Transfer – Models of Interdependence”, whose analytical procedure covered 18 geographically diverse rural centers in Poland. This research approach incorporated desk research of secondary data, primarily domestic and international publications, as well as descriptive methods. A review of the relevant literature highlighted definitional ambiguities concerning both the conceptualization of knowledge and the mechanisms of its transfer. Based on questionnaire surveys conducted among residents of the village of Wszedzień, as well as qualitative interviews with representatives of permanent residents (the local leader) and migrants (newcomers), a typology of knowledge transfer, its directions, and degree of intensification were identified, and the implications of diffusion for the analyzed social groups and the “small homeland” were diagnosed. The empirical research demonstrates that knowledge transfer between native and “new” residents of the village of Wszedzień, despite its low intensity, determines local development processes. Both groups contribute unique resources, the combination of which triggers social synergy.
Light pollution is an increasingly serious environmental issue. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of cloudiness and snow cover on the brightness of the night sky in the Podhale region. Measurements of the sky surface brightness were carried out between 2021 and 2025 using Sky Quality Meter (SQM-L) devices during six measurement campaigns, encompassing various combinations of atmospheric conditions and ski resort lighting. The results indicate that Zakopane is the main source of light pollution in the region, and that night sky brightness significantly increases in the presence of either clouds or snow cover. The highest brightness values were recorded when both factors occurred simultaneously, confirming their cumulative effect. A considerable increase in brightness was also observed near illuminated ski slopes. The findings are consistent with previous studies conducted in other regions of Europe and emphasize the need for continued monitoring of light pollution in the Podhale area, particularly in the context of seasonal tourism activities.
This paper presents the results of research on the impact of indoor lighting in apartments in a Kraków housing estate on increased outdoor light pollution. The study aimed to determine the scale of this type of light pollution in relation to street lighting and to identify the potential negative impact of illuminated interiors on the surrounding area. It was found that this lighting contributes negligibly to the increase in the brightness of the night sky glow, practically having no impact on this form of light pollution. However, it often impacts the quality of life of residents by illuminating neighbouring windows, balconies, and terraces. In the case of apartments located on lower floors, their lighting affects the vegetation of nearby trees and shrubs. It should be emphasised that in the vast majority of cases, apartment lighting is turned off before midnight, allowing for a restful sleep, even without curtains, blinds, etc. However, in the evening, brightly lit windows become a trap for nocturnal insects and, indirectly, for birds and bats that prey on them. By creating artificial constellations on the facades of apartment buildings, brightly lit windows disrupt the coordination of migratory and hunting birds at night. It should be noted that even this impact of indoor lighting on the environment can be significantly reduced by covering the windows at night.
The main objective of this article is to present the actual image of the city of Lodz as perceived by its young residents and users (students in their final years at the University of Lodz and the Lodz University of Technology). The article utilizes a questionnaire-based interview, which primarily employed open-ended questions strictly related to the city’s image and the image of Lodz residents, the city’s spatial symbols, and its personification. The survey results reveal a vision of the city in which negative characteristics clearly dominate. Furthermore, the projection of the city’s characteristics onto those of its residents was also observed. In the respondents’ minds, the residents of a poor city are also perceived as poor and sad. The results obtained, though mostly pessimistic, constitute an important starting point for changing this situation. In the students’ assessments, the image of Lodz, while undoubtedly enduring, is dynamic and subject to negotiation, as the respondents recognize not only the city’s difficult, working-class history but also its contemporary, creative potential. The study contributes to interdisciplinary urban studies by showing how young city residents give meaning to space by combining its material form with an affective interpretation.
The article presents the results of a study on the formation and evolution of the global research field devoted to urban soils between 1995 and 2024. A database comprising 961 scientific articles published during this period was compiled and subjected to a detailed bibliometric analysis. The analysis included an assessment of the temporal dynamics of publication output, the identification of the most frequently publishing journals and countries with the highest research activity, an examination of international collaboration patterns, and the distribution of publication languages. The core part of the study involved an analysis of keyword co-occurrence in the collected literature. Based on these data, a network model was constructed to represent the variability and interconnections among keywords. Analytical methods derived from mathematical graph theory were applied to characterize complex network structures in terms of their coherence, vertex degree distribution, and the extraction of so-called p-layers. To isolate these layers, an original graph-layering technique was proposed, enabling a multilevel interpretation of relationships and hierarchies within the analysed network. The keyword co-occurrence analysis revealed that the development of urban soil research can be divided into two distinct phases. The first phase (1995–2010) represents the emergence of research awareness, while the second (2011–2024) corresponds to a “developmental” stage characterized by the expansion and deepening of knowledge about urban soils. Furthermore, the results indicate that research in this field has revolved around a limited number of central concepts (Urban Soil, Heavy Metals, Biochar), which serve as semantic reference points within the scientific discourse. The established prominence of these keywords positions them as enduring thematic anchors in a still relatively young yet dynamically developing research domain, which continues to evolve in parallel with growing public awareness of the importance of the urban environment.
In many countries around the world, globalization has intensified hyper-consumerism not only among successful people but also among young people, encouraging individuals to use luxury goods as tools for self-expression and distinction. Nigeria’s socio-economic situation – characterized by sharp inequalities, a young population, a wealthy diaspora, and a growing urban elite – further reinforces the symbolic power of luxury. This article analyzes how the consumption of luxury goods functions as a visible indicator of social status in contemporary Nigeria. The article is based on the literature on the subject, ethnographic observations in the digital environment conducted between 2015 and 2025, and an exploratory survey. The research draws on Veblen’s concept of conspicuous consumption, Bourdieu’s trans-substantialization, Lipovetsky’s shift towards experience, and Social Identity Theory. The results of the study indicate that Nigerians increasingly rely on luxury products to signal their membership in high-status groups and gain access to the privileges associated with elevated social position. Social media platforms serve as key arenas for showcasing a luxurious lifestyle, reinforcing status competition and shaping popular notions of success. Respondents associate luxury with quality, prestige, recognition and social advancement, while also using it to reward themselves and satisfy their emotional needs. In Nigeria, buying luxury goods has become an important way of expressing who you are and where you are going. It shows the changes taking place in society and the economy but also reveals the tension between people’s dreams and their everyday lives.
This article examines the problem of uncertainty in GIS data that extends beyond the standard technical parameters of the “big five”. It is argued that traditional reports overlook semantic and conceptual uncertainty, which is crucial for poorly-defined geographical objects. Using examples of marsh and forest definition changes, it demonstrates how a lack of conceptual context leads to erroneous analytical conclusions. The paper proposes extending metadata to include ontologies, institutional context, and the opacity of GeoAI models. The goal is to shift towards a holistic fit-for-purpose approach, integrating measurement precision with a reflection on the meaning of geographic information.
This study presents, for the first time, the results of research on Lublin amber and the associated glauconite and sandstones accompanying amber deposits. The material was collected directly from mining excavations. Comprehensive analyses were performed on glauconite, sandstones, and amber samples taken from the excavation walls of the Stellarium mine (Górka Lubartowska-Niedźwiada deposit). The article includes petrographic and mineralogical characterization of glauconite and sandstones. FTIR spectroscopic analyses were conducted on amber samples obtained from the bottom, middle, and top sections of the deposit series, as well as from sandstones of varying hardness (hard, medium, soft). FTIR results did not reveal a clear relationship between the degree of amber depolymerization and its position in the profile, nor between the content of C=O and C–H bonds and the hardness of the host rock. However, a distinct increase in C=C bond content was observed in amber extracted from harder sandstones, which may indicate partial degradation of the polymer network leading to reduced crosslinking. AFM nanomechanical tests showed that amber from hard sandstones exhibits higher stiffness and brittleness with a simultaneous decrease in elasticity. Minor differences in elasticity values were also noted depending on sampling depth and amber color, with milky varieties showing higher Young’s modulus values. The obtained results provide a basis for further research on the genesis of Lublin amber and its distinctiveness compared to other varieties of succinite (Baltic amber).
Climate change presents one of the most pressing challenges for modern societies, particularly in urban areas. The article examines the major climate risks and their impacts on Polish regional cities, with a focus on adaptation strategies implemented within urban adaptation plans (UAPs). The study covered the strategic documents of 17 regional cities, identifying key threats, vulnerable sectors and potential consequences of climate change. The applied content analysis method enabled a systematic assessment of UAPs, highlighting dominant issues such as temperature increases, extreme weather events and threats to infrastructure and public health. The findings reveal significant variation in adaptation strategies, emphasizing the importance of locally tailored climate policies. The conclusions suggest the need to integrate adaptation actions with broader urban development strategies and to conduct further research on the effectiveness of implemented adaptation policies.
Spatial conflicts result from a lack of understanding between various interest groups. In the Kazimierz Landscape Park, conflicts take on particular significance, as they concern not only economic and social development but also nature conservation and biodiversity preservation. This article aims to present selected spatial conflicts within the Kazimierz Landscape Park. The causes of these conflicts and their impact on the natural and cultural environment were identified. The research utilized a critical analysis of the relevant literature, planning documents, cartographic materials, and statistical data from 2012–2022, as well as a case study. Spatial conflicts in the Kazimierz Landscape Park can be divided into conflicts related to the development of tourism infrastructure without considering natural constraints, agricultural activity, and the expansion of residential development in the immediate vicinity of protected areas. Tourism often causes degradation of the natural environment through increased tourist traffic. Inappropriate agricultural activity negatively impacts biodiversity and water quality. The expansion of residential and commercial development leads to the fragmentation and degradation of natural habitats. In the context of the Kazimierz Landscape Park, it is essential to find a balance between the protection of valuable natural areas and economic and social development. Achieving this goal requires understanding local specifics, engaging various stakeholders, and utilizing spatial planning tools to eliminate conflicts. As the examples of the municipalities of Kazimierz Dolny, Janowiec, and Wąwolnica demonstrate, despite high coverage by local plans, spatial conflicts have not been eliminated. Local planning documents are not always consistent with nature conservation objectives and do not prevent the escalation of conflicts. The study emphasizes the need for better integration of spatial policy with conservation measures and the need to actively engage local communities and environmental protection institutions in the spatial planning process.
Tourist maps are typically developed based on general geographic maps enriched with thematic data related to tourism. This approach provides them with high situational accuracy, detail, and rich content. These features, highly desired by users, enable precise location and navigation. In the era of widespread access to GPS receivers and navigation systems, these properties are slowly losing their importance. At the same time, tourist maps developed this way lack much content that could be useful to tourists. Replacing the hypsometric base with a landscape base could enrich the map’s content and make it more useful for tourists, especially since landscape perception is a natural way for humans to interact with their surroundings. Developing an appropriate landscape base is a significant challenge, as users of tourist maps are typically those without professional knowledge of landscape. Therefore, landscapes depicted on a tourist map should reflect the common understanding of the term, not its scientific definitions, and the map itself should have an appropriately edited legend. This work presents only a concept – an attempt to find better solutions. The aim is to stimulate discussion on how to improve tourist maps, not to evaluate the presented concept, which we leave to cartographers and tourists.
The article analyzes forest arboreta as a specific type of botanical garden. Based on literature and data from selected sites in Poland, a new classification was developed, considering their origin, functions, diversity and legal status. The result is a proposal for a new registry of forest arboreta, highlighting those particularly suited for scientific research, conservation, education, and recreational activities, with an illustration of their distribution in Poland as of 2025.
The forest settlement in Florianka was established in the Zwierzyniec forests, near the former road from Zwierzyniec to Górecko Stare. The Roztocze National Park covered Florianka with protection in 1991, and in 1996, a Polish horse (in Polish: konik polski) breeding facility (now the Conservative Breeding Centre) was established in the buildings of the former farm. The concept of adaptation of the land to the needs of cycling tourism, proposed in this paper, is based on conservation documentation from 1989 and on the preserved elements of composition of the manor complex. The adaptation of the land to tourism functions required the introduction of innovative solutions, with the preservation of the historical values of the place. Two gazebos with shingle roofing and a tourist gazebo were proposed. It is recommended to introduce tourist and recreational facilities, as well as informational and educational elements conveying knowledge about the Roztocze National Park, Florianka, and the Conservation Breeding Centre.
Accurate forecasting of particulate matter (PM) concentrations is crucial for effective air quality management and public health protection. In this study, we propose two deep learning-based forecasting models: a convolutional-recurrent autoencoder and a hierarchical autoencoder. Both models are trained and evaluated using historical data on PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations from multiple monitoring stations in Poland. To assess the influence of meteorological conditions on prediction accuracy, the models are tested in two variants: one using historical PM concentrations and meteorological features such as temperature, wind speed, wind direction, and air pressure, and another that uses only historical PM data. The results clearly show that the inclusion of weather data significantly improves forecasting performance, with lower MAE, and MSE values observed across all test sites. The models trained with meteorological inputs consistently outperform their counterparts trained on PM data alone. The results are also compared with the baseline model. These findings highlight the importance of environmental context in air pollution forecasting and demonstrate the potential of autoencoder-based approaches for this task.
The article addresses the topic of a new wave of educational migration to Poland, focusing on the influx of students from Sub-Saharan Africa to Lublin, one of the country’s main academic centres. This phenomenon is analysed in quantitative terms, based on statistical data and the results of a survey. Between 2019 and 2022, there was a marked increase in the number of students from this region, with a particular preference for non-public universities and practical courses. The results indicate that the dominant group are young women from families with relatively high educational capital and aspirations related to academic mobility. Lublin is characterised by a high concentration of nationalities – nearly 80% of the surveyed students come from Zimbabwe, which distinguishes the local academic environment from the more diverse centres of Western Europe in this respect. The article highlights the importance of the analysed phenomenon for the development of intercultural education in Poland and the need to reflect on integration and adaptation challenges in the context of the growing presence of sub-Saharan students in Polish higher education.
Care farms represent an innovative form of combining agricultural activity with social services, which is gaining importance in the context of the multifunctional development of rural areas and support for seniors, lonely people or those in difficult life situation. The article focuses on two aspects: the essence of care farms, their functioning and their impact on improving the quality of life of participants; the possibilities of implementing this model in Polish conditions. The development of the idea of care farms is discussed using examples of case studies from selected European countries. Particular attention is paid to the possibility of implementing the model in domestic conditions, using the example of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, which is a pioneer in implementing the idea of care farms in Poland and where the first pilot projects were carried out. To achieve the aim of the work, research methods included literature studies, descriptive method and the results of a focus group study conducted among service beneficiaries and care farm owners. The research results indicate growing interest in this form of activity and the significant potential of agricultural farms for the development of care services as a tool for social integration and counteracting social exclusion, as well as their role in the social support system as social innovations at the interface of agriculture and care. In Poland, care farms can become an important element of sustainable rural development and can be a response to socio-demographic challenges, offering unique benefits from contact with nature and participation in farm life, and providing an alternative to institutional forms of care.
The assessment of the geotourism potential of geological objects is currently one of the main directions of geotourism development in Poland. Initially, it was most often performed for well-known and interesting objects located in physio-geographic regions with high morphological and geological values, which are places characterized by intensive tourist traffic. Recently, attempts have been made more and more often to assess the geotourism potential of individual objects located in local areas, in order to create geosites used in the tourist promotion of cities or villages. Such an attempt was made in this article for the area around Mielnik, located in the Bug River Gorge near Mielnik, the most spectacular section of the Podlasie Bug River Gorge – a physio-geographic mesoregion characterized by high tourist traffic intensity. The geosite valuation method was used to assess the geotourism potential. Its results allowed to emphasize the attractiveness of selected objects with high, scientific uniqueness, which constituted the basis for creating geosites in the analyzed area and a geotourism trail in Mielnik. These objects represent different depositional environments, which determine the genesis of different geological and geomorphological objects. The creation of geosites and their protection will improve the accessibility and protection of these objects, as well as increase the promotion of the city on a supra-regional scale.
This paper presents the conditions for the development and functioning of anthropogenic loess relief in an area with high gradients, dihedrals >100 m, and significant gully dissection (about 4 km∙km–2). Particular attention was paid to erosional processes and sediment deposition, their dynamics, and the geomorphological effects resulting from several centuries of continuous use. The response of the environment to strong anthropopressure resulted in the formation of a set of road-like relief, erosional and accumulative forms, integrated into the drainage system of catchment area and settlement zone. The danger of flash floods in the village of Kawęczyn, located at the foot of the slope of the Wieprz River valley, whose source is the area of cultivated fields belonging to the village in terms of a uniform funnel-shaped catchment, is discussed. The catchment’s land use is dominated by deciduous forests in ravine systems (64.9%), and arable fields as cereals occupy 31.6%. Soil erosion rates were assessed using the RUSLE model with plant protection parameters. The erosivity of precipitation was calculated for an average multi-year total of 710.9 mm. The average erosion rate without protective treatments is highest in the slope gradient range of 2–7⁰ and is 18.9 t∙ha–¹∙rok–¹, while with treatments of 7.9% efficiency, it is 17.4 t∙ha–¹∙year–¹. Low erosion occurs in the 15–35⁰ range, which may be associated with permanent vegetation cover or terracing of dry valley slopes. The terraced system is dissected by road basins, formed with roads perpendicular to the fields. On the other hand, the slope of the Wieprz River valley, which is cultivated longitudinally, with a sub-terrace at the foot, is dissected by road gullies with cones/embankments at the outlet.
The gap section of the Vistula Valley through the upland belt was the subject of research by many teams of geologists, geomorphologists, hydrologists. A good recognition of the unique values of the Earth’s heritage on a national and continental scale provided the basis for the preparation of the Geopark Małopolski Przełom Wisły project. The employees of the Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Maria Curie-Skłodowska University (Lublin) played a leading role here. The experience gained during the development of the project allowed for in-depth studies in the field of geotourism and geoeducation after its completion. This resulted in a number of publications functioning in national and international scientific circulation. This paper provides an overview of the publications, highlights the most important achievements and presents the prospects for further research. The area of the potential Geopark is one of the best-recognised and described areas in Poland in terms of geotourism. However, there is a lack of research on the opinions of tourists, residents and local authorities regarding geotourism. An essential step is to promote this form of tourism among the aforementioned stakeholder groups. The development of suitable tourism products is also necessary for the advancement of geotourism.
The Euroregion is one of many forms of cooperation between countries on both sides of the border, distinguished by the collaboration of local authorities of different countries. The inclusion of the Roztocze area on the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves list in 2019 and the establishment of the Euroregion Association of Local Governments in May 2020 opened up opportunities for the development of cross-border activities in the area of nature conservation, but also in socio-economic development in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. The article aims to assess potential cross-border links as a basis for the creation and development of the Euroregion Roztocze on the Polish side. The temporal scope of this study includes the use of available statistical information showing the current conditions and spatial changes in 2011–2022. The paper uses statistical data analysis methods, literature analysis and the scoring method to determine the potential of individual local government units. The following characteristics were taken into account: travel times of 30 and 60 minutes from border crossings, potential functional links occurring in the study area and cooperation within the framework of Polish-Ukrainian partnership cities. The Podkarpackie voivodeship stands out in the analysis because of the A4 motorway. After the completion of the S17 Hrebenne–Piaski investment, it can be expected that the zone of travel times of 30 and 60 minutes from the Hrebenne crossing will expand significantly. In a broader context, this will enable seamless and efficient access from the Ukrainian border to Lublin and Warsaw. The analysed functional links do not fully justify the creation of a new Euroregion, but since the establishment of the Euroregion Association of Local Governments and the Euroregion Roztocze Cross-Border Association, the cooperation between Polish and Ukrainian self-government units has increased. It can certainly be stated that the emerging Euroregion Roztocze aims to increase cooperation between local government units in the entire area.
