Ojmahmad Rahmonov
Social-ecological development of the Euroregion
“Śląsk Cieszyński” on the verge of integration within European Union structures
Introduction
The Polish part of the Euroregion „Śląsk Cieszyński” covers area of the following physi- cal- geographical region: Beskid Śląski, Pogórze Śląskie, Kotlina Ostrawska i Oświęcimska and Płaskowyż Rybnicki (Kondracki, 2000). From administrative point of view this area is formed by two administrative districts – Cieszyński i Bielski and town Jastrzębie Zdrój.
An aim of activity of the Euroregion “Śląsk Cieszyński” is supporting development in border areas, especially in such domains as:
co-operation in spatial planning,
solving the common problems within transport, communication and citizens’ safety, solving the common problems of ecology and natural environment,
co-operation in preventing and liquidation of natural disasters,
co-operation within economic and trade domain, tourism’s development, passengers’
movement including further rationalisation of border motion.
There is no doubt that the Euroregion area in its depression-mountainous part deter- mines one of the most valuable natural areas. Also very important industrial centres have developed here. In the mountainous part (expect Tatry, Pieniny) it is one of the most at- tractive terrains bothfor forestry and tourism including an active rest (Denisiuk, 1985).
The values are known in the whole country, so that is why, it is not strange that this region has been intensively used in tourism – recreation purposes.
This causes, that from some time one can observe a following biological degradation of natural environment and also becoming impoverished of flora as an accumulated effect of landscape anthropogenical transformations. It is binding not only for local autho- rities to pay more attention on matters connected withenvironment protection in this part of country, but also for international community because of its specific location.
Thanks to it, achieving of financial help used on environmental protection and biological diversity from the European Union would be possible. The aim of the following study is an attempt of presenting the anthropopression influence on ecosystems functioning in the Polish Euroregion „Śląsk Cieszyński”, describing the dynamics of environment chan- ges occurring under influence of business activity and man’s migration bothin the 90’
years and trials of making a prognosis on the following years.
Przegląd polskichdoświadczeń u progu integracji z Unią Europejską, 2004, Gdańsk, s. 321–328.
Condition of living nature and its functioning
Euroregion „Śląsk Cieszyński” is characterized by varied terrain’s relief. The southern part of the Euroregion consists of units belonging to the Carpathian Foothills and the Be- skidy. In the Beskid Śląski the following communes are located: Istebna, Wisła, Ustroń i Brenna, which are great tourism importance. A varied landscape of the Beskid Śląski is characterized by big forests’ complexes, meadows and arable areas. The borders strip Czantoria, Stożek, Równica, Błatnia and Barania Góra belong to the most viewing. The Beskid is also the area having extremely rich and diverse natural region (Denisiuk, 1993).
The participation of forests’ complex at the area of the Euroregion „Śląsk Cieszyński” is presented on the Table 1.
Interesting rocks formations i.e. rock funguses at the route from Stożek to Kiczora, the highest waterfall Rodła in Biała Wisełka and rocks at Kobyła at the route from Wisła Dzie- chcinka to Stożek belong to nature peculiarities.
At the area of the Euroregion one can observe a very interesting system of hydrogra- phical network. Here the longest river in Poland – Wisła – has a start. Also the Czadeczka river flowing to the south to the river basin Danube has its start here (next to the wa- tershed Wisła–Odra, also a European water part runs between basins of the Baltic and the Black Sea. The eastern part of Cieszyn administrative unit (about 2/3 area) belongs to the basin of the Wisła, meanwhile the western and southern parts are drainaged by Olza to Odra rivers. A little terrain at the south provides water to the Danube river. At the area of the administrative unit, a section of the Upper Wisła is located from its sources to the ba- sin Goczałkowice. The second biggest river flowing via discussed area is the Olza, being at considerable section a border river between Poland and the Czech Republic
322 Wojciech Oleś, Sławomir Pytel, Ojmahmad Rahmonov
Table 1. Distribution of forest areas in “Śląsk Cieszyński” Euroregion
Tabela 1. Rozmieszczenie obszarów leśnych w Euroregionie „Śląsk Cieszyński”
Name of places Forests [ha] Participation in the Euroregion areas [%]
Cieszyn 206 0.7
Jastrzębie Zdrój 624 2.0
Ustroń 2633 8.5
Wisła 8206 26.4
Skoczów 950 3.0
Strumień 864 2.8
Brenna 6069 19.5
Chybie 873 2.8
Dębowiec 520 1.7
Goleszów 1166 3.8
Haźlach794 2.5
Istebna 4730 15.2
Jasienica 1348 4.3
Jaworze 1103 3.6
Zebrzydowice 983 3.2
Total 31069 100.0
Source: Rocznik Statystyczny..., 2000
Interesting landscape complexes have preserved in a two separated geomorphologic types- hollow and convex. The hollow forms cover different area’s depressions such as river valleys, deep ravines withsteep slopes and water-course, natural hollow withfertile inflowing grounds or old, utilised quarries.
The natural convex forms – valleys and ravines at vertical section V-shaped – have ari- sen as a result of water erosion. Their history reaches the beginnings of holocen and has lasted till nowadays. Through-like holes at flat U-shaped and dry bottoms, had formed much earlier, because at least in the last phases of Pleistocene – before phase of the oldest Trias (Kondracki, 2000).
Chosen protected areas of the different Euroregion “Śląsk Cieszyński”
There are diverse forms of nature conservation – reserves, landscape parks, nature monuments, ecological arable lands and nature-landscape sets. Examples of reserves are presented in Table 2. The forest reserve „Kopce”, formed as an aim to maintain rare spe- cies of plants: Arum orientale and others. It is situated in Markowice–Cieszyn quarter, at area about 15 ha. One can observe that at this area all natural deciduous floras are pro- tected. At this area the natural deciduous stand (Tilio-Carpinetum submontanum and Dentario glandulosae-Fagetum allietosum ursini) including spruce being in a great part ar- tificial. Good maintained forests ensure development and durability of rare plants – Hac- quetia epipactis and Arum orientale. The main danger for the reserve is its treading by lo- cals and also neighbor of motocross racecourse. Moreover a free passage through reserve, threats to blooming plants during spring and in a particularly Hacquetia epipactis and Convallaria majalis. Also a lack of boards consisting of information about legal protection of this area has a negative influence on its protection (Celiński, Czylok, 1994 and actually).
Table 2. The nature reserve in the area of “Śląsk Cieszyński” Euroregion Tabela 2. Rezerwaty przyrody Euroregionu „Śląsk Cieszyński”
No Name of nature reserve Type of reserve The year of
establish Localization (commune)
1* Góra Tuł floral 1948 Goleszów
2 Barania Góra landscape 1953 Wisła
3 Kopce forest 1953 Cieszyn
4 Zadni Gaj forest 1957 Goleszów
5 Wisła water 1959 Wisła
6 Lasek Miejski nad Puńcówką floral 1961 Cieszyn 7 Lasek Miejski nad Olzą floral 1961 Dolina Olzy
8 Rotuz peat 1966 Chybie i Czechowice-Dziedzice
9 Czantoria forest 1996 Ustroń
10 Skarpa Wiślicka forest 1996 Skoczów
11 Morzyk forest 1996 Jasienica
12 Dolina Łańskiego Potoku forest 1999 Jasienica
*number in table referred to Fig. 1 Source: Wika (1999)
The next protected area being a reserve is “Zadni Gaj” also having forests character.
One has been protecting Taxus baccata at the area of 6 ha. One can observe also here fo- rests – degraded Carpathian beech wood with a clear average of spruce coming from arti- ficial planting. A little fragment of beech wood has lasted only in the south-eastern part of the reserve. A threat for population Taxus baccata is an artificial spruce forest stand cau- sing big changes especially in the species’ composition of undergrowth. Hundred-year spruce forest producing big amounts of litter of conifer needles, causes ground acidifica- tion (pH decreasing 1–2 units) however Taxus baccata is a calciphylous species and in such site are not reconditioned (Rostański, Sendek, Jędrzejko, 1980).
A reserve “Lasek Miejski nad Puńcówką” is a floristic reserve and its main purpose is protecting of very rare plant Hacquetia epipactis. It is located in Cieszyn town – the Upper Suburb by Puńcówka and Młynówka – at area approximately 10 ha. The protection covers the natural forest stand of dry-ground forest and riverside carr being similar to Fica- rio-Ulmetum campestris. In its ground cover the forest includes many places of Hacquetia epipactis and also other rare species such as Arum orientale. Similarly, as it occurs in the
“Kopce” reserve also here one can notice a strong reserve’s devastation by treading. It is strictly connected withreserve’s location in town. Many wide 8 m paths intensively used cause a neofitysation phenomenon consisting of foreign origin species penetrating into natural flora, suchplants are: Robinia pseudoacacia, Chelidonium majus or Solidago sero- tina. Another very negative phenomenon is reserve’s littering (Celiński, Czylok, 1994).
An aim of creating a reserve “Lasek Miejski nad Olzą” is protecting of rare plant Ha- cquetia epipactis – being a background of deciduous forest. The natural stand of dry-gro- und forest and fragmentary Ficario-Ulmetum campestris is covered by protection. In this forest one can also find units of Hacquetia epipactis and Arum orientale. Similarly to the reserve „Lasek Miejski nad Puńcówką” one can meet here intense littering and treading.
The landscape park of the Beskid Śląski with the landscape park in Żywiec and the landscape park of the Beskid Mały create complex of the Zachodniobeskidzkie landsca- pe parks.
Forests which cover 31 069 ha i.e. 33.5% of the general area of the Euroregion, deter- mine of floristic values. Their placement at the area of the Euroregion is not even. The most forests can be met in the Beskid Śląski (Wisła, Brenna, Istebna, Ustroń), and least in the Pogórze Śląskie (in Cieszyn and Dębowiec) and also on the Płaskowyż Rybnicki in Ja- strzębie Zdrój (tab. 1).
A big part of the area is covered by mountain forests which fulfill vary functions. The main functions of forests at the area of the Śląsk Cieszyński are: protection of soil cover, climatic, water protection, recreation – health and landscape (Białas, Tomiczek, 1992).
Influence of economic development on ecosystems’ functioning
Social-economic condition has had a big influence on gradual people’s influx at this area. In ecological sphere this influx has been conditioned by unpolluted air, purity class water, and different flora’s occurring. Considering the economic sphere the inflow is con- nected withhighlevel of infrastructure, good communication, good transit site, progressing economic development manifesting itself in forms of little and middle enterprises.
324 Wojciech Oleś, Sławomir Pytel, Ojmahmad Rahmonov
The influence of social-economic factor mentioned above is highly expressed by syste- matically increasing people’s influx in the Polish part of the Euroregion “Śląsk Cieszyński”.
In year 2000, at analysed area almost 300000 of inhabitants dwelled and comparing it to year 1995, an increase of population’s level at 3000 people has been noticed, which is presented at Fig. 2.
The real area’s increment is shaped by natural growth and migration balance. Compa- ring these two components, one can observe that the crucial role in creating a demographi- Fig. 1. Distribution of nature reserve in the area of “Śląsk Cieszynski” Euroregion in background of
Silesian Province
Ryc. 1. Rozmieszczenie rezerwatów przyrody w Euroregionie „Śląsk Cieszyński” na tle podziału ad- ministracyjnego województwa śląskiego
cal balance of Euro region’s communes since 1997 has had a migration balance. The 80-ties were characterized by negative migration balance. The reasons of departure shall be seen in industry development in the Upper Silesia. The economy changes in 90-ties can be observed by increasing people’s outflow from conurbation areas to areas which are cha- racterized by favourable natural conditions. Suchtrend was observed by Rakowski (1995), who mentions that Bielsko province will be under strong people’s migration pressure co- ming from the Katowice province, for which the area of the Bielsko province is an attractive place to decant. There are several reasons of such acting, for example: natural environ- ment, development’s dynamics, site’s nearness, and social connections. Analysing the com- ponents of people’s migration one can notice the fact that the outflow to towns has a signifi- cant average, meanwhile the influx structure is characterized by inflow from towns.
The permanently increasing number of little and middle enterprises has a negative in- fluence on environment for example: pollution. To the main sources of air pollution exi- sting on the describing area, that except of activity of industrial plants, one should include public transport, domestic coal-fired, transborder emission (Mleczko, Węgierek, 1999).
The sources of emission mentioned above are electric power stations in Trzyniec and Sto- nawa (Hławiczka at al., 1994). They cause the air pollution with such chemical compo- unds SOx, NOx, carbon monoxide, metals which have direct influence on biocenosis sys- tems and their health conditions. Most of the Polish plants emitting pollution to air are placed in Cieszyn, Skoczów and Jastrzębie.
Conclusions
The Euroregion “Śląsk Cieszyński” is characterised by high natural value’s occurring, which have a positive influence on development of tourist and recreation function. From the tourist point of view, the highest participation falls to areas with general recreation va- lues, which areas are characterised by mountain resorts and mountain valley villages. The biggest forest complexes in Euroregion are placed in commune Ustroń, Wisła, Brenna, Istebna. They make up seventy percent of forest areas of the whole Euroregion. The ana- 326 Wojciech Oleś, Sławomir Pytel, Ojmahmad Rahmonov
Fig. 2. The number of population in Polish part of Euroregion Ryc. 2. Liczba mieszkańców polskiej części Euroregionu
lysed Euroregion communes are characterised by occurring of the less amount of indu- strial plants. However big number of tourists resorts is connected withthe attractivity of naturals – landscape values.
The other communes determine (Table 1) only thirty percent of forests’ complexes. A tourist attraction is a permanent phenomenon in Beskidy and higher parts of Pogórze.
Going to the south the attractivity clearly decreases (Warszyńska, 1984). The Beskidy’s lo- calisation in the near of Upper Silesian Conurbation causes increased people’s influx not only because of sanitary conditions suchas: clear air but also region’s position in the bor- der area is conductive to little and middle entrepreneurships. As Żmuda (1981) claims that next to industry, agriculture, transport, communicative, municipal economy the main source of threat is deteriorative influence tourist movement and especially it is the most massive form of weekend and holiday rest.
In most cases the protected areas being part of Euroregion require an active protec- tion, for example, there is lack of information boards making people aware of natural va- lues of these terrains, at the areas of described reserves. Due to entering Poland to the structures of European Union, boards including information in foreign languages (for example Czech, English) and photographs of rare and protected plants, Hacquetia epi- pactis being example of Cieszyn, should be brought into effect. The lack of an active pro- tection in the city reserves and in near towns can cause total extinction of some species.
Due to entering Poland to the structures of European Union, all the areas require ad- ditional nature researches and their including into net Natura 2000. Presently this net is the most complex and the best legislative and politically European ecological net aiming to provide permanent existence of ecosystems.
Rozwój społeczno-ekologiczny obszaru Euroregionu Śląsk Cieszyński u progu integracji ze strukturami Unii Europejskiej
Streszczenie
Euroregion Śląsk Cieszyński należy do najatrakcyjniejszychobszarów południowej Polski pod względem osobliwości przyrodniczych. Na obszarze tym występują kompleksy lasów iglastych i liś- ciastycho charakterze zbliżonym do naturalnego. Są to najczęściej naturalne fragmenty lasu buko- wego z domieszką jawora, świerka i jodły, położone w granicy regla dolnego i górnego. Większość kompleksów leśnychw tym regionie podlega ochronie prawnej w postaci rezerwatów przyrody. Są to rezerwaty leśne, florystyczne oraz faunistyczne. W rezerwacie florystycznym „Kopce” i „Lasek Miejski nad Olzą” chroni się cieszyniankę wiosenną w naturalnym lesie grądowym i lipowo-dębo- wym. W związku z przystąpieniem Polski do Unii Europejskiej obszary te wymagają dodatkowych badań przyrodniczychi ichwłączenia do sieci Natura 2000. Jest ona obecnie najbardziej komplek- sową i najlepiej legislacyjnie i politycznie przygotowaną europejską siecią ekologiczną służącą za- pewnieniu trwałej egzystencji ekosystemów.
Celem niniejszego opracowania jest próba ukazania wpływu antropopresji na funkcjonowanie ekosystemów polskiej części Euroregionu Śląsk Cieszyński, określenie dynamiki zmian za- chodzących w środowisku przyrodniczym pod wpływem działalności gospodarczej i migracji człowieka w latach 90., jak i dokonanie próby prognozy na kolejne lata.
Warunki społeczno-ekologiczne przyczyniły się do stopniowego napływu ludności na ten teren.
W sferze ekologicznej napływ ten warunkowany jest dobrym stanem sanitarnym powietrza,
pierwszą klasą czystości wód oraz występowaniem zróżnicowanej szaty roślinnej. Z kolei w sferze ekonomicznej wiąże się to przede wszystkim z wysokim poziomem infrastruktury, dostępnością komunikacyjną, położeniem tranzytowym, postępującym rozwojem gospodarczym przeja- wiającym się w postaci rozwoju małychi średnichprzedsiębiorstw. Wpływ wspomnianychczynni- ków społeczno-ekologicznychwyraźnie uwidacznia się w systematycznie zwiększającej się liczbie ludności polskiej części Euroregionu Śląsk Cieszyński. W latach1995–2001 liczba ludności zwięk- szyła się prawie o 1,5%. Niski przyrost naturalny powoduje, iż znaczącą rolę w tworzeniu bilansu demograficznego odgrywają migracje ludności. Odpływ ludności utrzymywany jest na stałym po- ziomie 6,5 ‰, a napływ na poziomie 10‰. W analizowanychlatachdwukrotnie zwiększyła się liczba małychi średnichprzedsiębiorstw. W związku z tym stale wzrastająca liczba ludności nega- tywnie wpływa na stan środowiska przyrodniczego, np. na zanieczyszczenie powietrza. Do głów- nychźródeł zanieczyszczenia powietrza atmosferycznego występującychna omawianym terenie należy zaliczyć transport drogowy, działalność zakładów przemysłowych, przydomowe piece wę- glowe oraz emisję transgraniczną. Źródłem wspomnianej emisji są elektrownie w Trzyńcu i Stona- wie. Powodują one zanieczyszczenie powietrza związkami SO2, NO2, tlenkami węgla, metalami ciężkimi, które bezpośrednio wpływają na układy biocenotyczne. Większość zakładów emi- tującychsubstancje zanieczyszczające powietrze po stronie polskiej zlokalizowana jest w Cieszy- nie, Skoczowie i Jastrzębiu. Jednak w ciągu ostatnichkilku lat można zauważyć spadek emisji zanieczyszczeń do atmosfery przez zakłady produkcyjne.
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328 Wojciech Oleś, Sławomir Pytel, Ojmahmad Rahmonov
