Assessment of implementation of protection of mineral deposits in spatial planning in Poland

A complex of raw materials available in a given commune shapes its functional spatial structure and affects local economic development. The use of the resource base of minerals depends largely on the management of the space and respecting the zoning restrictions connected with protection of mineral deposits. The urgent need to protect them is due to their non-renewable nature and progressive development of the land. Preserving access to deposits is essential to ensure future mineral supply necessary for the economic development. This article presents the results of the assessment of implementation of rules of protection of mineral deposits in spatial planning at the level of territorial units in Poland. The study has been conducted in twenty-three communes of the Lesser Poland voivodeship, for thirty-one unexploited mineral deposits designated for protection in the Spatial Development Plan of the Lesser Poland (Malopolskie) Voivodeship of 2003. In the study of conflict with development of the selected mineral deposits with the environment, factors related to land use, forms of nature protection, water conservation and planned land development have been evaluated. The assessment has taken into account the importance of individual factors of conflict by giving them weights by means of pairwise comparison method. Five classes of conflict of the deposit management have been proposed: non-conflicting deposit, small conflict, medium conflict, major conflict and very big conflict. Almost equal numbers of deposits (9) belong to the class characterized by a of medium, small and large conflicts. Road and technical projects as well as expected significant impact of exploitation on the environment restrain exploitation. The impact is related to the necessity of use of explosives during the exploitation and by the cumulative effect of the mining activity already existing nearby. Analysis of the planning documents of the communes has shown both inadequate protection of mineral resources, including designation of areas of deposits for single-family housing, and a few examples of properly maintained spatial planning in the field of protection of mineral deposits. Information obtained from the environmental survey has been supplemented by assessment of the social aspect. In nine communes it has been determined that the areas of mineral deposits are not subject to spatial conflicts but in seven communes there is opposite situation. The most important benefits from the mineral exploitation which has been indicated in the studied documents included: jobs, access to construction materials and development of the commune. Present work allowed to define the areas and the scale of conflicts induced by development of mineral deposits and to propose measures for rational management of mineral resources. Recognition of the existing and potential conflicts can help to make the right decisions concerning development of the area and minimising impacts of exploitation of the mineral deposits.