The role and the quality of environmental analyses in the spatial planning process : an example from the buffer zone of Słowiński National Park (Poland)
The paper presents the assessment of spatial planning process in the buffer zone of Słowiński National Park in Poland. The detailed analysis was carried out in the selected area (Smołdzino municipality) which is covered by Local Spatial Development Plan (LSDP). The spatial planning documents, especially the ones concerning natural conditions of the area (e.g. ecophysiographic analyses), were analysed in terms of their quality. Also, the author conducted field mapping in order to verify the compliance of documents with actual land use. In the buffer zone of national park a particular care of the natural environment should be taken. However, the quality of the analysed documents is poor, even in respect of their factual content. Authors of the documents often abandon expensive and time-consuming field studies, hence the documents tend to be prepared based on outdated cartographic materials. The preparation process of spatial planning documents is well defined in law. However, the research shows that even well-designed legal framework would not result in the highquality documents. It is often a personal factor of the authors failing to perform their duties properly, which impact the final outcomes
