The aim of this study was to identify and analyze, from the qualitative and quantitative perspective, the causes and objects of conflicts which appear while drawing up local development plans. Conflict research was carried out in the city of Olsztyn in the years 1995 – 2003. The main source of data were protests against and objections to spatial development plans and judgments of the Supreme Administrative Court. This analysis emphasizes the importance of conflict identification for making rational spatial decisions.

Numerous rural management works are an important and effective instrument used for the improvement of the agrarian structure of the area. However, their proper implementation is limited by the lack of legal regulations. The proposed system concerning planning rural management works should ensure proper organization of planning and realization of these works and may be a model for future management procedures for regional and local management services.

Agriculture in Poland is characterized by two opposed tendencies. One of them results from the necessity of being competitive in the new economic situation, especially shortly before our accession to the European Union. High economic efficiency in food production is connected with disadvantageous ecological consequences. Threats to the natural environment in rural areas, caused by specialization, concentration, mechanization and chemization have an influence upon pollution of the Baltic Sea by rivers supplying coastal sea water and also because of infiltration of subterranean waters into the sea. The other tendency characterizing Polish agriculture is ecology. Appropriate location of agricultural production, right proportions between the agricultural function and protective function, the application of environmental protection requirements to agriculture are expected to improve the quality of particular environmental components, including the waters of the Baltic Sea.

The aim of the studies was to analyze selected problems of spatial management in the area of the Poprad Landscape Park. Particular attention was paid to analysis of the divergence between the decisions concerning the Park protection and the provisions of local spatial management plans. The investigations allow to conclude that there are considerable differences between the decisions concerning landscape park protection and the provisions of local spatial management plan regarding development areas. It seems that the regulation by the Minister of Environmental Protection of 2002 on the principles of drawing up draft plans of landscape park protection will improve spatial management in protected areas.

The development of suburban areas is connected with lower costs of building ground. Such areas soon become residential quarters. However, the main factor determining the attractiveness of a given area is the noise level. Residential areas should be characterized by a low noise factor. Unfortunately, the research results show that the suburban areas surrounding the city of Wrocław are very noisy. Maybe in the future acoustic screens will be mounted in villages.

Green areas planning is a complex process, requiring knowledge of several scientific disciplines. However, it is possible to improve the living standards of rural inhabitants using the basic principles of green areas planning. This concerns first of all suburban villages located in the vicinity of motor roads.

The authors of this paper present a study of the land use structure in China after accession to the World Trade Organization. The paper reviews the policy concerning land use before joining the WTO. It analyses the situation in China after entering the World Trade Organization, especially the consequences of liberalization of the so called food security policy. The paper also discusses the problems connected with agricultural land protection, the necessity of adjusting the crop structure to the international situation and pursuing open policy, based on international cooperation. The conclusions and suggestions for certain changes in the present land use structure in China are also included in the paper.

The paper presents some aspects of a long-term lease of real estates abroad on the example of such countries as Australia, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Great Britain. Some features of the right to perpetual usufruct of land in Poland are compared with those of a long-term lease of real estates in Great Britain and Australia.