ARE ‘GREEN’ MUNICIPALITIES SUSTAINABLE? AN ANALYSIS OF THE DEVELOPMENT CONDITIONS OF MUNICIPALITIES LOCATED IN PROTECTED AREAS

Abstract

Valuable natural areas are seen from the perspective of favourable conditions of sustainable development, which – particularly at a local level – can be a signifi cant limitation; and even cause conflicts. In fact, an evaluation of the areas for socio-economic development depends on the level of analysis (local, regional, national or transnational ones). Therefore, there is an attempt undertaken to the evaluation of socio-economic conditions of municipalities depending on the share of valuable natural areas in their total area on the example of the Lubuskie Voivodeship (local and regional levels). The research suggests that the most sustainable conditions for socio-economic development appear in the group of municipalities with a moderate share of valuable natural areas; at the level of 30-60% of the total area of the municipalities.