Is Sustainability Possible in Suburbs of Big Cities?-The Example of Warsaw

Warsaw, as the capital of Poland, has relatively good economic and social conditions compared to the rest of the country. It strongly influences neighbouring areas, which are rural, from the administrative point of view. However, they are not like traditionally perceived rural areas with dominating agriculture-they have undergone significant transformations. Development of a big city is a challenge and a chance but, on the other hand, it puts on pressure by the demand for investments of a different nature-for example, the housing or industry and services. All the processes contribute to a very complicated situation connected, for instance, with a necessity of an efficient transport system or respect for protected areas of high quality and importance to the natural environment. The study includes some attempts to determine relationships between social, economic and environmental aspects of the development of rural areas close to Warsaw by use of selected statistical methods and is based on indicators from the public statistics. The second part consists of partial results of research-a questionnaire directed to local authorities and their opinions on the influence of protected areas on the potential of the development of local communities.