TYPOLOGY OF PHYSICAL-GEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS IN POLAND IN LINE WITH LAND-COVER STRUCTURE AND ITS CHANGES IN THE YEARS 1990-2006

Abstract

The authors used a division of Poland into physical-geographical regions to present diversity in terms of land cover, and to distinguish a typology of natural units (mesoregions), in terms of both the nature of the said cover in 2006, and changes in that cover over the two time intervals 1990-2000 and 2000-2006. Individual mesoregions were assigned to the different types in regard to the two periods, this making it possible to illustrate the regional distribution of land-cover changes in Poland, with account taken of stability on the one hand, or changes as regards trends on the other. The results obtained may provide objective premises for the selection of representative spatial units in geographical, as well as landscape or ecological, research.