Geographia Polonica (2020) vol. 93, iss. 3

Abstract

This paper addresses the problem of how the reborn winemaking in Lower Silesia may contribute to the social, landscape and functional changes of rural areas. Newly established vineyards refer back to the local traditions of grape cultivations which vanished for the variety of reasons. Vineyards are typically small family businesses. The profiles of winemakers show that they are most often educated persons, arriving from cities, who follow their passion and consider winemaking as a supplementary source of income. They are aware of the value of local products, traditions and harmonious landscape and expose these values in both the process of winemaking itself, as well as in developing wine tourism. They support and organize new activities such as music events, recreational events, and guest presentations. Vineyards are new elements of the rural landscape, but they are historically justified and harmoniously integrated with the topography, whereas associated infrastructure usually represents good examples of revitalization of existing buildings, occasionally of architectural value. Due to the family-type business on the vineyards it is rather premature to infer their direct positive influence on local employment and incomes. Nevertheless, due to the growth of wine tourism local suppliers are expected to increasingly benefit from this development trend.

Keywords: viticulture, vineyards, wine tourism, rural areas, sustainable development

Edyta Pijet-Migoń [edyta.migon@wsb.wroclaw.pl], WSB University in Wrocław Fabryczna 29-31, 53-609 Wrocław: Poland
Karolina Królikowska [karolina.krolikowska@wsb.wroclaw.pl], WSB University in Wrocław Fabryczna 29-31, 53-609 Wrocław: Poland

Abstract

The problem of vacant commercial premises has been present in some central areas of transitional citiesof Central and Eastern Europe, which have decayed in parallel to spatially uneven urban development processesand/or suburban expansion. This research aims to contribute to systematic analysis of the reasons forabandonment of commercial premises in the centre of Zagreb and exploration of revitalisation strategies, withan emphasis on the significance of citizen participation for successful planning and management of the city.The research was undertaken in two phases in May, 2016. The first included mapping of vacant commercial premises on selected streets in Zagreb’s centre. Next, using a non-probabilistic sample, a questionnaire surveywas carried out face-to-face and online (N = 200). The results of the questionnaire survey showed the respondents’awareness of the complex set of reasons underlying the occurrence and expansion of this phenomenonin the city centre and the need for urban regeneration, including a stronger regulatory framework at the citylevel.

Keywords: vacant commercial premises • city centre • questionnaire survey • mapping • Zagreb

Petra Radeljak Kaufmann [radeljak@geog.pmf.hr], Department of Geography, Faculty of Science University of Zagreb Marulićev trg 19, 10000 Zagreb: Croatia
Slaven Kliček [slaven.klicek@gmail.com], Association “Cyclists’ Union” Ribnjak 3, 10000 Zagreb: Croatia
Filip Bišćević [filip.biscevic@gmail.com]
Dino Dokupil [dino.dokupil@gmail.com]
Davorin Jašinski [jasinski.davorin@gmail.com]
Marijan Begonja [begon.m@gmail.com]
Doroteja Harjač [doroteja.harjac@gmail.com]
Tamara Bosanac [tamarabosanac@outlook.com]
Silvija Komes [silvija.komes@gmail.com]
Lana Slavuj Borčić [lslavuj@geog.pmf.hr]
Marko Stančec, Association “Cyclists’ Union” Ribnjak 3, 10000 Zagreb: Croatia
Mislav Zuanović [mislav.zuanovic@gmail.com]
Linda Korpar [lindakorpar@gmail.com]

Abstract

An important element in the local shaping of a low-carbon economy, as well as one of the key areas of activity in communal plans for its development should be rural areas and their related agricultural activities.This is due on the one hand to the significant share of agriculture in total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissionsin Poland (on average about 8%, locally as much as 20-50%), and on the other hand to the high potential of rural areas to use their resources to increase carbon sequestration in biomass and soil, reduce GHG emissions, as well as use agricultural activity for the development of renewable energy. The paper, based on the results of mathematical modelling of GHG emission from agricultural sources in all Polish communes, attempts to regionalizethe needs of integrating agriculture and rural areas into the development of low-carbon economyat the local level. For this purpose, the guiding factors for regionalisation of the needs for mitigation actionswere determined, and a regionalisation of these needs as well as a typology of the distinguished regions were, consequently, developed. The regions with the most urgent needs for mitigation actions were indicated, as wellas the directions of mitigation actions for particular types of regions.

Keywords: agriculture, rural areas, mitigation of GHG emissions, Polish communes, low-carbon economy

Mariusz Kistowski [mariusz.kistowski@ug.edu.pl], Faculty of Oceanography and Geography University of Gdańsk Bażyńskiego 4, 80-309 Gdańsk: Poland
Paweł Wiśniewski [pawel.wisniewski@ug.edu.pl], Faculty of Oceanography and Geography University of Gdańsk Bażyńskiego 4, 80-309 Gdańsk: Poland

Abstract

The present article deals with issues of cultural economics. The author sought to characterise cultural sectorentities in Wrocław (Poland). The study is based on a statistical analysis of data from the Central Statistical Office (GUS) which characterise the cultural sector in Poland and in the studied city in 2010-2019. Special focus was given to provide the characteristics of the entities, including their number, number of employees, type of activity and spatial distribution. Based on the information collected, the author has formulated the following conclusions: recent years, especially the period 2016-2019, have witnessed a significant increasein the number of cultural entities, active especially in new media. Wrocław’s cultural sector entities tend to belocated in the vicinity of the Old Town and along the axis running from the city centre to the south, all the way to the municipality of Kobierzyce. The new trends observed in the development of culture do not build on the potential developed back in the 20th century, for instance in the film or television industry. In some areas (including publishing, radio, television) one can observe intense competition from entities (both domestic and foreign) located in other cities, mainly in Warsaw. No single creative activity is prevailing in Wrocław, which means that the city has not yet selected its specialisation in the field of culture.

Keywords: cultural sector, creative industries, Wrocław, Poland

Beata Namyślak [beata.namyslak@uwr.edu.pl], Uniwersytet Wrocławski, Instytut Geografii i Rozwoju Regionalnego

Abstract

This article proposes a method of the assessment of distribution of tourist facilities. The main aim of presented study is to assess a spatial density of tourist elements. The evaluation of the distribution of tourist facilities in the landscape allows to indicate overloaded areas. The second purpose is the proposition of an indicator measuring the landscape saturation of tourist facilities, i.e. density index developed by the authors. The index, referred to river basin, is based on the ratio of the area of the tourist facilities to the total area of the unit. For the purposes of calculation, the authors developed a framework for the classification of tourist facilities based on its spatial character. The method was examined in the Silesian Beskid mountain range and can be applied in similar mountain areas.

Keywords: Silesian Beskid, tourist landscape, tourist facilities, human impact on landscape, index of tourist facilities density, impact of tourist facilities on landscape

Anna Żemła-Siesicka [anna.zemla-siesicka@us.edu.pl], Faculty of Natural Sciences University of Silesia Będzińska 60, 41-200 Sosnowiec: Poland
Viacheslav Andreychouk [w.andrejczuk2@uw.edu.pl], Faculty of Geography and Regional Studies University of Warsaw Krakowskie Przedmieście 30, 00-927 Warszawa: Poland
Urszula Myga- -Piątek [urszula.myga-piatek@us.edu.pl], Faculty of Natural Sciences University of Silesia Będzińska 60, Sosnowiec: Poland

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to examine the status of the Ukrainian-Polish bilateral trade links, to identifyregional characteristics and disparities in the Ukrainian commodity trade with Poland. The place of Polandin the geographical structure of commodity exports and imports with regard to Ukrainian regions has beenstudied. Balance and connectivity coefficients of commodity trade with Poland have been calculated for 25 regionsof Ukraine. Regionally influenced differentiations between the Ukrainian and Polish regional commoditytrade links have been revealed. The groups of Ukrainian regions have been determined on the basis of the levelof their commodity trade balance and type of external trade links with Poland.

Keywords: export, import, commodity trade, trade balance coefficient, trade connectivity coefficient, transport linkages, Ukraine, Poland

Volodymyr Lazhnik [lazhnik-vi@ukr.net], Faculty of International Relations Lesia Ukrainka Eastern European National University Volia Avenue, 13, 43000 Lutsk: Ukraine
Serhii Puhach [puhachserhiy@gmail.com], Faculty of Geography Lesia Ukrainka Eastern European National University Volia Avenue, 13, 43000 Lutsk: Ukraine
Andrii Maister [maister89@ukr.net], Open International University of Human Development “Ukraine” Heorhii Honhadze Street, 5, 43020 Lutsk: Ukraine

Abstract

While mountain regions face territorial disparities when set against lowlands, the EU’s post-2020 CohesionPolicy seeks to reduce such between regions by focusing on those that are most vulnerable. Along with regions that are otherwise remote, mountainous areas are mostly seen as in decline, and deprived of opportunities to achieve sustainable development. They face serious demographic issues connected closely with migrationout flows, while they are characterised by low-quality educational services and a paucity of employment opportunities compared with circumstances in the lowlands. It against this background that the work detailed here was carried out to investigate inequalities between mountain and lowland areas of Greece. Specifically,the focus is on disparities in levels of education and unemployment, as well as population shifts. While the temporal frame comprises the period 2001-2011, the locality is the mountainous Municipal Unit of Ioannina,in the Region of Epirus. The findings reveal high level of inequality in all sectors of vital importance to one of the EU’s poorest regions, while the further aim of the paper is to reveal the main drivers underpinningdisparities in the context of post-2020 policy.

Keywords: inequalities, Cohesion Policy, mountain regions, demographic changes, education, employment, Greece

Stella Giannakopoulou [stellina@topo.auth.gr], School of Rural and Surveying Engineering Aristotle University of Thessaloniki University Campus, 54124 Thessaloniki: Greece
Polychronis Kolokoussis [pol@survey.ntua.gr], Remote Sensing Laboratory, School of Rural & Surveying Engineering National Technical University of Athens NTUA, Heroon Polytechniou 9, 15780, Zografou: Greece
Apostolos Arvanitis, School of Rural and Surveying Engineering Aristotle University of Thessaloniki University Campus, 54124 Thessaloniki: Greece