CHANGES IN LAND USAGE OF RURAL AREAS IN SUBURBAN AREA OF KATOWICE CONURBATION

Abstract

The purpose of the elaboration is to indicate the changes occurring in the usage of land of rural areas. The investigated area is located in the south of Poland and includes eight rural municipalities in the suburban area of Katowice conurbation. The spatial scope of the examination concerns 2002, 2008 and 2014. The influence of the Katowice conurbation acquires different spatial forms. One of the manifestations are the changes of land usage. Rural areas of favourable conditions for the development of agriculture are subjected to the process of urbanization to the lesser extent in relation to areas of unfavourable conditions for agriculture. A decrease of the participation of land used agriculturally occurs, to the benefit of the lands of residential, service-related and industrial usage. The entire scope of research is subject to the city expanding over the suburban area. The dynamism of these changes varies in time. The elaboration allows to specify the direction of changes of the usage of land on the investigated rural areas.