Labour Migration of Ukrainians to the Warmia-Masuria Province: Current Trends and Key Challenges

Author(s): Teresa Astramowicz-Leyk,Yaryna Turchyn,Olha Ivasechko / Language(s): English,Polish Issue: Spec Iss/2023

The article examines the labour migration of Ukrainians to the Warmia-Masuria province. Such research methods as systematic, comparative, behavioural, statistical data analysis, document analysis, focused interviews and case study helped to identify current trends and key challenges presented by migration flows of Ukrainians to the province. The main factors affecting Ukrainian labour migration to the province are analysed, with particular emphasis placed on quantitative descriptions of the features of Ukrainian employment in the region. It is concluded that there are prospects for further labour migration of Ukrainian workers to Warmia-Masuria.

Modes and Measures of Business Support During Wartime: The Case of the Carpathian Region of Ukraine

Author(s): Olha Mulska,Ihor Baranyak,Iryna Demkiv / Language(s): English,Polish Issue: Spec Iss/2023

This article reveals the geographical distribution, structures, and problematic aspects of business migration to the oblasts of the Carpathian region of Ukraine and abroad. In the context of the Russian–Ukrainian war, the article assesses the risks and threats that internal and international business migration pose to the Ukrainian economic system, economies of the Carpathian region, the internal consumer market, and business entities. Measures to mitigate the threats of business migration to the Carpathian region are offered. The implementation of certain measures will eliminate the identified threats to relocated businesses and minimise the risks to the social and economic development of the Carpathian region and Ukraine as a whole.

Participation in International Integration Associations as a Factor of Ukraine’s Global Competitive Power

Author(s): Olena Zayats,Olena Pryiatelchuk,Maryna Korol,Mykola Palinchak,Ihor Korol / Language(s): English,Polish Issue: Spec Iss/2023

Current glocalisation processes require the identification of priority areas for Ukraine’s further integration into the international economy. The right choice of direction, tools and forms of implementation allows the government to determine, justify and implement a competitive strategy for the country. The study aimed to determine the relationship between international economic integration and Ukraine’s global competitive power. Identifying Ukraine’s sectoral comparative advantages in trade with the EU and evaluating the index of the regional orientation of Ukraine for specific groups of goods and services made it possible to define the effects of economic collaboration with the European region. The assessment of the complementarity index of Ukrainian–European trade relations revealed that Ukraine and the European Union are main trading partners. Furthermore, the analysis of the mechanism of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union proved that the agreement actively contributes to the growth of Ukraine’s global competitive power. Comparative analysis in historical retrospect revealed priority areas for improving the integration processes which help to form the main competitive advantages of the country.

Еnvironmental and Socio-Demographic Consequences of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant Accident: A Historical Retrospective after 36 Years

Author(s): Tetiana Chubina,Yanina Fedorenko,Oksana Oleksiivna Spirkin / Language(s): English,Polish Issue: Spec Iss/2023

The accident at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant was one of the largest in human history. It is often referred to as a global event because its effects were felt not only by Ukrainians but also by the populations of Belarus, Russia, Central Europe, the Balkans and the Scandinavian Peninsula. 2022 marked the 36th anniversary of this terrible occurrence, when the history of Ukraine in the late twentieth century was divided into two parts: before the tragedy of 26 April 1986, and after it.Today, it is important for Ukrainian society not only to recognise the significance of the catastrophe and remember its victims but also to find ways to overcome its grave consequences. This requires comprehensive research useful for developing new approaches to minimising the environmental and socio-demographic problems caused by the Chornobyl tragedy. Thus, this research has practical scientific, humanitarian and socio-political significance. The novelty of the obtained results lies in the study’s critical rethinking of the achievements of predecessors and its analysis of historical sources concerning the environmental and socio-demographic consequences of the accident at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant as they manifested from 1986 to 2022.The methodological basis of the work is empirical cognition. The use of logical-analytical methods of grouping and typology allows us to classify homogeneous events and coherently present the material of the article. The study additionally uses comparative judgment, historical-statistical and problem-chronological methods. The principles of objectivity and impartiality also play an important role in the work.The purpose of the study is to investigate the consequences of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident on the environmental and socio-demographic aspects of the population of Ukraine from 1986 to 2022 based on the identified set of sources. From a historical perspective, the level of pollution in the territories of Ukraine is traced, the demographic situation is monitored, and parallels are drawn between the Chornobyl disaster and the increase in incurable diseases and mortality.In conclusion, the authors note that although 36 years have passed, the echo of this catastrophe remains tangible for the population of Ukraine. Several issues still must be solved. The first is the return to life, namely, the safe living and management of areas that have been exposed to radiation contamination, as well as the continuation of work aimed at restoring agricultural soils. Second, purposeful work must be conducted by the state to minimise social and demographic problems resulting from the Chornobyl catastrophe. In our opinion, the government should increase expenditures aimed at providing quality medical services to the population of Ukraine, as well as conduct constant monitoring of the health of those people who are at high risk in order to better detect diseases in their early stages.These groups of people include liquidators of the consequences of the accident and migrants. Such measures can stabilise the demographic situation by increasing birth rates and reducing mortality, as well as improve the health and living standards of the population of Ukraine.

Directions for Improving Ukrainian Legislation on Tourism in Post-War Times

Author(s): Svitlana Rostyslavivna Babushko,Nataliia Opanasiuk / Language(s): English,Polish Issue: Spec Iss/2023

It is expected that people from all over the world will visit Ukraine after its victory in the war against Russian aggression, turning Ukraine into a world-popular tourist destination. Hence, Ukrainian egislation on tourism must be improved in the post-war period. The authors analysed the current legislation on tourism in Ukraine and identified major problems that must be addressed systematically and those that should be settled in the post-war period in view of the post-war humanitarian, socio-economic, institutional, and cultural challenges. In this context, the authors proposed a set of changes to improve Ukraine’s legislation on tourism on the national and institutional levels. Such changes should positively impact other socio-economic processes of reconstruction in post-war Ukraine.

Information Technologies in the Strategy for Tourist Destination Development in the Western Ukrainian Border Regions

Author(s): Olexander Kyfyak,Vasyl Kyfyak,Yurii Koroliuk / Language(s): English,Polish Issue: Spec Iss/2023

The article examines the peculiarities of the formation and development of tourist destinations in the western Ukrainian border regions. GMDH analysis of statistical indicators of tourism in Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Zakarpattya, Volyn and Chernivtsi regions revealed the importance of information campaigns promoting local destinations. The strategy for tourist destination formation, information support and promotion in the western Ukrainian border regions is developed and the components of its realisation are described.

The Impact of War on the Reorientation of Trade Flows: The Case of Ukraine

Author(s): Mykola Palinchak,Kateryna Brenzovych,Viktoriya Mashkara-Choknadiy,Yuriy Mayboroda / Language(s): English,Polish Issue: Spec Iss/2023

The military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, which started in 2014 and came to another active phase in February 2022, may change Ukraine’s foreign trade in terms of both its geography and product structure. The regions of Ukraine will not only have to recover from the consequences of destruction, but also to seek new directions of foreign economic activity and build connections with reliable partners such as the European Union and the United States. The paper presents an analysis of changes in the foreign trade of Ukraine and its regions since 2014 and examines shifts in trade flows in the direction of Western leaders of global trade. The case of Georgia, another target of Russian military intervention, in the reorientation of its trade flows, is also considered.

Qualitative Relationship of Seismic Activity with Vertical Displacements of Terrain After Mine Closure with the Use of Dinsar Technology

Author(s): Paweł Sopata,Violetta Sokoła-Szewioła / Language(s): English Issue: 21/2022

The liquidation process of mines is very complex and long. It relates to various hazards, including post-mining seismicity and deformations of ground surface. The above issues are the subject of the research project under which the monitoring of ground surface movements is carried out in the area of the closed coal mine “Kazimierz-Juliusz”, which is currently being flooded. The monitoring is carried out using the GNSS technique and satellite radar interferometry (InSAR). The project makes use of radar data from the Copernicus project, which is being implemented by the European Commission in cooperation with the European Space Agency (ESA). InSAR monitoring started in December 2020. Additionally, we analyzed the impact on ground surface of 5 rock tremors of the energy not exceeding 6.5E + 05 J (tremor magnitude Mw = 2.1), which were reported in the investigated area in 2018–2020. The article presents the results of qualitative analysis involving the relationship between seismic activity and vertical movements of ground surface. To investigate potential changes in altitude, DInSAR technology was applied. On the basis of interferometric images generated from radarograms in the periods before and after the tremor, in January 2019, it was found that vertical movements of ground surface were possible to occur. Altitude changes can be characterized with the values in the range of single millimeters, which are only slightly beyond the accuracy range of the InSAR method. The analysis of interferograms, comprising wider time databases, indicated that the impact of the tremor on the deformations of ground surface is incidental.

Application of GIS to Assess the Quality of Life of Inhabitants in Urbanized Areas

Author(s): Anna M. Barańska,Konrad Eckes / Language(s): English Issue: 21/2022

In a democratic country, every citizen has the right to information about the environment in which he or she lives – therefore, there should be some procedure of conventional, formal evaluation of an urbanized area with reference to its local fragments. Such kind of the procedure has been proposed in this article. The procedure is based on the conventional scoring of local areas, which can be assigned weights representing positive and negative features. The procedure provides for variants of preconditions and continuation of considerations for source data variables. The method of assessing the quality of life in the local area should serve the broad local community, therefore the intermediate and final results of the considerations are presented not only in the form of maps, but also in an illustrative way – in the form of three-dimensional (3D) images, with colors easily associated with positive or negative features. A wide range of tools from the professional GIS package – ArcGIS version 10 was used to perform the task. These tools allow to solve complex spatial problems as well as to visualize the results in an effective way.

It and Surveying Technologies in Geo-Hazards Modeling of Historic Anthropogenic Objects on the Example of the Wanda Mound in Krakow

Author(s): Rafał Gawałkiewicz / Language(s): English Issue: 21/2022

Over the recent ten years the development of geodesic and informatic tools contributed to enrichment of measurement and interpretation methods as well as visualization of various anthropogenic and natural objects subdued to deformations over the time. The availability of photogrammetric methods (terrestrial and airborne measurements) caused that they are widely applied in monitoring of various objects subdued to the external (i.e., atmospheric) factors (rain, wind, temperature), mining (influence of underground mining). This also refers to natural terrain surface affected by mass movements and artificial earth constructions (mounds, spoil tips, dikes, road and rail embankments), the changes of which can threaten stability and pose threat to objects situated in these areas/objects and their users. There are many methods of getting spatial data and their processing, allowing the interpretation of geological threats. The article presents the measurement and interpretation model of the changes of artificially formed area with the historic Wanda Mound in Krakow with the use of robotic station SPS 930 Trimble and active signal MT 1000 and program AutoCAD v. 2021 (splines Coons patches). In the article it was shown that applying a limited number of the data set elements in a definite geometric system and the same measurement technology in the studied period of the analysis (2013–2022), it is possible to record and graphically interpretate changes on the surface of an earth mound, manifested in the phenomenon of ground creep, even in case of small values.

GEOCITY—A NEW DYNAMIC-SPATIAL MODEL OF URBAN ECOSYSTEM

Author(s): Yaroslav Vyklyuk,Denys Nevinskyi,Nataliya Boyko / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2023

In this paper the initialization of the city is considered, which consists of several steps, including the creation of city objects with their locations, creation of residents with their attributes and own daily schedules, etc. A description of the model is provided as a tuple of attributes. The adequacy of the simulation model is checked based on the statistical data from the city of Lviv, Ukraine. Generated locations of city ecosystem objects are presented. The daily schedule of residents is simulated. A possible work schedule for each specialty is given, and separate schedules are created for working days and holidays. A unique schedule is predicted for the resident, which depends on their age and work specialty. The dynamics of visits to facilities by residents on weekdays and at weekends are analyzed. Based on the conducted experiments, the adequacy of the model and its realistic reflection of the functioning of the city's ecosystem during the day are proven. It means that by using this model, researchers can assess the impact of different behavioral scenarios on the residents within the city ecosystem more reliably. This enables a better understanding of how certain actions or changes in behavior can affect the spread and control of diseases in a specific geographic area. This model has the potential to serve as a foundation for future modeling of systems at the medium and macro scales.

READING THE SIBERIAN CITY-TEXT: SPATIAL SEMANTICS AND SEMIOTIC POLITICS OF URBAN TOPONYMIC LANDSCAPES IN YAKUTSK (RUSSIA

Author(s): Olga A. Lavrenova,Viktoriya Filippova,Irena Khokholova / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2023

The article studies the spatial semantics of Yakutsk’s urban text (Sakha/Yakutia, Russia) as a component of the cultural landscape. The research is based on the theoretical approaches of the Tartu-Moscow School of Semiotics, scholarly traditions of post-Soviet cultural (or the so-called “humanitarian”) geography, and modern critical studies of toponymy. The authors analyze spatial semantics and controversial elements of political and cultural symbolism of the urban text, which combines indigenous Yakut, Russian, and Soviet cultural components. With more than four hundred toponymic examples, this case study reveals the semiotic structure of Yakutsk toponymic system as a combination of urbanscape symbolization processes. For the first time the article empirically shows, with the help of toponymy in the space of a post-Soviet city, the relationship, interaction, and positioning of the three cultures. In addition, the semantics of toponyms is typologized, which allows to quantitatively, qualitatively, and cartographically describe the process of “writing” the urban text.

REGIONAL ISSUE, INNOVATION, AND THE ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT

Author(s): Vladislav Spitsin,Darko B. Vuković,Elena Akerman,Ludmila Borilo,Natalia Chistyakova / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2023

This paper models the relationship between economic development and environmental progress. It investigates the relationship between investment in innovation and uncontained emissions in the selected Russian regions from 2013 to 2018. The database contains information for 72 locations and is comprised of 432 observations (panel data, 72 regions multiplied by 6 years). Random-effects regression models have been applied to analyze panel data. In a study of 72 Russian regions over the period of 2013–2018, this research demonstrates that the growing research and development (R&D) intensity of regional firms leads to a larger ecological footprint and growing emission intensity. These effects are negatively moderated by the per capita income of the region’s residents and regional enrollment in higher education. The effects are positively moderated by the export intensity of regional firms. The results suggest that economic and ecological aspects of sustainable development are at odds with each other and indicate that regional policymakers should account for the negative ecological externalities of economic development when devising policies aiming to facilitate regional growth.

Olivier Sykes, David Shaw, Brian Webb, International Planning Studies: An Introduction, Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore 2023, XVIII + 279 s.

Author(s): Maciej J. Nowak / Language(s): English,Polish Issue: 92/2023

VITOSHA MOUNTAIN (SW BULGARIA) DURING THE LITTLE ICE AGE IN THE CONTEXT OF PAST CLIMATE CHANGES IN THE BALKANS

Author(s): Jordan Tzvetkov / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2022

This study aims to present and analyse several descriptions of snow cover conditions on Vitosha Mountain over the last five centuries. It uses the written historical sources and diachronic method. They are discussed in the context of available climate and environmental data for Bulgaria and the adjacent areas of the Balkans during the Little Ice Age (LIA). It can be concluded from the presented descriptions of Vitosha during the LIA that probably in the 17th and early 18th centuries Vitosha had significantly longer snow retention with the presence of permanent or semi-permanent snow patches, a situation that is significantly different from the present environmental conditions. The analysis of the climatic conditions during the LIA in other regions of Bulgaria, as well as in neighboring countries in the Balkans, shows that during this period, especially in the southern parts of the Balkan Peninsula, there was a significant climate cooling. Future studies of the (high resolution) natural archives in Bulgaria are needed to provide more information about the nature of climatic and environmental changes during the LIA.

CORINE LAND COVER CHANGE DETECTION IN SERBIA AND BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Author(s): Dajana Tešić / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2022

The structure of land cover in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and the Republic of Serbia has been constantly changing due to a number of different factors. The war profoundly influenced life, particularly the socio-economic structure, which furthermore has a meaningful impact on current land cover. In this research CORINE land cover (CLC) databases are used (from 2000 to 2018) for analysis and comparison of land cover in the aforementioned countries. The analysis is conducted by ArcGIS Pro 2.9.0 software to interpret changes in land cover over the period 2000-2018. The result showed that in the period from 2000 to 2018 agricultural land has a trend of a significant decrease in both countries. In addition, artificial surfaces enlarged their surface, especially to the detriment of all agricultural categories which is directly linked with the process of the post-war reconstruction of the countries. In this paper, land cover changes in Serbia and BiH that occurred during the period 2000-2018 are analyzed and presented in graphical forms. The results show that the period 2000-2006 has undergone the most intense changes. A total of 1,223.14 km2 of agricultural land was transferred to other types of land cover in Serbia in the period 2000-2006 while in BiH it amounted to 1,045.76 km2. Most of these changes can be attributed to the past war and its implications, but also to the challenges of the current economic situation. The CLC database established in this way serves as a necessary framework for providing information on vulnerable ecosystems and habitats, as well as a basis for regional spatial planning, natural resource inventory and environmental monitoring.

ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES OF THE NORTHERN INDIAN PLAINS AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS

Author(s): Dajana Bjelajac,Milka Bubalo-Živković,Tamara Lukić / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2022

The Northern Indian Plains are facing severe environmental challenges that threaten the health and well-being of millions of people in the region. Deforestation, soil degradation, water pollution and scarcity, and poor air quality are some of the major environmental issues that require urgent attention. Deforestation in the region has resulted in the loss of biodiversity, soil erosion, and reduced water availability. Soil degradation is another major issue in the region, resulting from unsustainable agricultural practices, overuse of chemical fertilizers, and erosion caused by deforestation. It has also reduced soil fertility, resulting in lower crop yields and reduced agricultural productivity. Using chemical fertilizers and pesticides has also led to water pollution, affecting the health of people and animals who rely on these water sources. Water scarcity and pollution are major challenges in the region, with many people having limited access to clean and safe drinking water. The pollution of water sources due to industrial and agricultural activities has further compounded the problem, leading to waterborne diseases and various health issues. Finally, air pollution is a major environmental challenge in the Northern Indian Plains, with high levels of particulate matter and other pollutants affecting people’s health in the region. Burning crops, vehicular emissions, and industrial activities contribute to poor air quality, leading to respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular disease, and other health issues. This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the mentioned environmental challenges in the Northern India Plains by utilizing contemporary literature and evidence-based research to establish its findings.

ADAPTATION STRATEGIES OF SHEA AND AFRICAN LOCUST BEAN TREE MANAGERS IN AGRICULTURAL FIELDS IN A CONTEXT OF CLIMATIC VARIABILITY: A CASE STUDY FROM THREE REGIONS OF BURKINA FASO (WEST AFRICA)

Author(s): Isidore Pawendkisgou Yanogo,Joseph Yaméogo / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2023

Agricultural field trees constitute social nets for rural households in Burkina Faso. However, in recent decades they have been affected by climate variability, which has led to a significant reduction in the populations of dominant species such as shea and African locust within them. The objective of this study is therefore to determine the adaptation strategies developed by managers, as well as the factors influencing these strategies to cope with the changing environment. The methodology deployed for this purpose consists of primary and secondary data collection. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were used to analyse the collected data. The study revealed that more than 70% of the tree managers are men and the majority of them are illiterate, with households of 5-15 children. In addition, more than 80% of the managers have agriculture as their main activity, and the size of their holdings is between 1ha and 10ha. Three strategies are used by tree managers in agricultural fields. The proactive strategy aims to anticipate the consequences of climate variability. The reactive strategy aims to react to the effects of climate variability. The strategy of silvicultural techniques consists of pruning, grafting and assisting the trees. However, the choice of strategies is influenced by the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents. For example, the proactive strategy is influenced by education level, household size and income from non-timber forest products. For the reactive strategy, the size of the holding and the level of education have an effect on the choice of strategy. For the silvicultural techniques strategy, age and education level have an impact on the choice of strategy. It is then up to the relevant authorities to work in the light of these results to initiate actions to strengthen the coping strategies of the people managing the trees in the agricultural fields.

OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS IN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF REPUBLIC OF SERBIA AND BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA ON THE PATH TO EUROPEAN UNION MEMBERSHIP

Author(s): Ilhana Madžović / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2023

One of the most crucial aspects of the economic development of European Union (EU) candidate countries is regional development. The importance and necessity of regional development and country regionalization in the process of European integration has frequently been emphasized by the European Union. Regionalization of Republic of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina will facilitate economic growth across all areas, lessen regional disparities and improve the effectiveness of the decentralization process. The completion of this challenging and crucial work will move the nations closer to becoming EU members. The article describes Republic of Serbia’s and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s journey toward European integration from its inception to the present, the EU’s position on the Western Balkans, and the potential and constraints they bring for regional growth. The aim of the article is to demonstrate the significance of regional development in Republic of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the necessity of regional development for achieving full EU membership.

Mogućnosti i ograničenja istaživanja etničke strukture stanovništva na osnovu popisne statistike Kneževine i Kraljevine Srbije: primer Istočne Srbije

Author(s): Aleksandar Knežević / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 2/2023

Since the first half of the nineteenth century, various census data have been collected regarding the ethnic characteristics of the Serbian population, although the data are incomplete and collected irregularly. The ten censuses conducted in the Principality of Serbia between 1833 and 1874 have immense archival value, but their usefulness for ethno-demographic studies is limited. Similarly, while the statistics collected in the censuses of the Kingdom of Serbia from 1874 to 1910 are somewhat more reliable than the previous ones, they suffer from the absence of a direct question on ethnicity.To determine the ethnic structure of the population during this time period, a researcher had to rely on an indirect approach through the identification of ethnic groups based on their linguistic affiliation. However, it is important to note that this method only provides an approximate estimation of ethnic composition. Despite this limitation, available census data can still provide valuable insights into the ethnic composition of the population of the Principality and Kingdom of Serbia, with the number and share of the Vlach population as the most numerous ethnic minority taking centre stage. This means that any data analyses must begin with the understanding that the indicators can only be presented for the Romanian-speaking population.If we accept the indirect approach to determining population ethnicity, we can deduce from the data that the number of Vlachs in Eastern Serbia increased up to 1895, and their percentage share increased up to 1884. It is noteworthy that the dynamics of the number of Vlachs until 1895 were relatively stable, implying that the increase was practically linear and consistent with the growth tendency of Serbia’s overall population at the time. Within the framework of demographic analysis, data on declared Vlachs in almost all censuses since the post-war census cannot be used to derive explainable demographic indicators. Therefore, it is reasonable to suspect that such data would also be of limited use in other academic fields, particularly in law, politics, and public life in general. This highlights the importance of paying closer attention to earlier ethno-statistic records, especially the first statistical aberration reported in the last decade of the nineteenth century.