The impact of linear investments on the spatial structure of agricultural regions

Abstract

Linear investments cause irreversible changes in the existing shape and way of using the land located alongside it. In the case of the construction of the highway, these lands are mostly located in rural areas and prior to construction, they were used mostly in agriculture. Losses resulting from such investments affect the natural environment and landscape. Along the impact zone wind conditions change, also exhaust emissions and noise increase. Investors try to avoid the design of wide protection zones of greenery, due to the cost of buying a larger area of land and they usually use it only when it is necessary. Severe ecological losses result from land degradation, disturbances in the drainage system and changes in water relations. Such investments also have a negative impact on the profitability of agricultural holdings, in particular organic farms. The market value of land adjacent to the motorway is also decreasing. Often, on both sides of the motorway there remain land with a small area, access to the ground is difficult or even impossible. In order to reduce the negative impact of linear investments on the spatial structure of agricultural areas, infrastructure integration is carried out. The implementation of consolidations related to the construction of motorways in Poland is not a common and frequent phenomenon, which lacks concrete plans and schemes of actions. The paper presents the objectives of consolidation in the area of the village of Szczepanow in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship.