RURAL ENVIRONMENT. EDUCATION. PERSONALITY ISSN 2255-808X Jelgava, 15 .-16.05 2015. 34 Community Education and Integrated Organization of Rural Areas based on Land Consolidation Processes in Poland Małgorzata Dudzińska 1 Ass. Prof.; PhD, Katarzyna Kocur-Bera 2 Ass. Prof., PhD University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Depart. of Cadastre and Spatial Management, Poland 1;2 gosiadudzi@uwm.edu.pl 1 ; katarzyna.kocur@uwm.edu.pl 2 Abstract: Any activities aimed at rural area development should not disregard the inhabitants who are "the tools" that implement given mechanisms. To a large extent, the effectiveness of social activities is determined by the participants’ expectations towards the projects and their knowledge of the subject. Land consolidation projects are the ideal tools for rural development. Land consolidation may be described as the planned readjustment of land ownership patterns with the aim of creating larger and more rational land holdings. Other goals of land consolidation may include infrastructural improvements and the implementation of developmental and environmental policies. Members of the local community participating in the project should have sufficient knowledge about both positive and negative outcomes of their actions. Surveyors, designers, the relevant literature and guidebooks communicate only the positive results to farmers and other project participants to enhance their interest in land consolidation. This article discusses both positive and negative aspects of rural land consolidation and the opportunities and threats associated with consolidation measures. The environmental, social and economic prerequisites for consolidation are presented. Land consolidation measures will be evaluated in a SWOT analysis. Our findings should be presented to members of the local community to increase assist them in the decision-making process. Qualitative methods, in particular analytical, topological and identification methods were used to accomplish the above research tasks. Keywords: land consolidation, rural development, environmental protection, local community. Introduction Land consolidation, which is also known as land readjustment, reallotment or reparcellation, is a spatial planning process and a highly complex spatial allocation problem. Land consolidation is defined as "introduction of optimal changes to land structure in a rural area based on the provisions of national laws regulating land consolidation (which, together with current practice, impose a series of criteria and limitations) to achieve the goals of a given consolidation scheme". In many countries, including the EU Member States, land was consolidated to intensify farming operations. The above led to serious environmental problems, including soil, water and air pollution, and the loss of many wildlife species. Land consolidation processes introduced for the sole purpose of improving agricultural production and working conditions can have negative consequences for the natural environment (Thomas, 2006). Today, land consolidation is also regarded as an effective tool that contributes to rural development. The concept of rural development involves improvements in agricultural production, rural employment, tax policies, infrastructure, public utilities, residential construction and nature conservation (Weiss, Maliene, 2004). For this reason, land consolidation should be regarded as the main tool in sustainable development of rural areas. The main objective of this study was to present the procedure of agricultural land consolidation as a whole. Procedures are not only beneficial for the space and society but also characterized by certain risks and opportunities. Our findings should be presented to members of the local community to increase assist them in the decision-making process. The first part of the article deals with positive and negative consequences of land consolidation on the natural environment in rural areas. Social problems associated with land consolidation are discussed in the second chapter. The third chapter focuses on the economic consequences of consolidation. The final chapter contains a SWOT analysis of land consolidation projects.