Environmental Awareness Of Local Authorities As A Factor In The Development Of Bio-Economy In The Natural Valuable Areas Of The Lublin Voivodship

The aim of the study was to determine the environmental awareness of local authorities as a factor in the development of bio-economy in the natural valuable areas and the analysis of selected aspects of environmental awareness of the councilors of the Lublin voivodeship. An analysis was performed of the existing research on the environmental awareness of the inhabitants of the Lublin voivodship and the study of the environmental awareness of councilors conducted in 2013, being part of the project entitled: „Environmental conditions and factors of economic functions’ development in the areas of natural value of the Lublin voivodeship. „Analyses were performed for the following municipalities: Urszulin, Zwierzyniec, Wilkow, Susiec, Sosnowica, where, in the late 90s studies were carried out of the ecological awareness of inhabitants of the natural valuable areas of the Lublin voivodship and five units of comparison – Biala Podlaska, Radzyn Podlaski, Komarowka Podlaska, Tyszowce, Wohyn. In the „green” municipalities, 70 councillors were studied - 95% of the total, and in the control ones 75 - 100% of the total. Councillors from the environmentally valuable municipalities showed their positive attitude to nature, but often had insufficient expertise on the resources, protection and sustainable use in the management processes. The condition for the development of bio-economy in the Lublin voivodship was to develop ecological awareness of local authorities.