Problemy edukacji ekologicznej społeczności wiejskiej

Agricultural production, in particular an application of artificial fertilisers and pesticides is one of the essential sources of environmental contamination including activities of households in rural areas. There is much evidence on irrational management of the natural environment as well as lack of elementary knowledge of ecology. The examples cover such activities as treating canals and water reservoirs as dumping places for unclean substances, accumulating rubbish and harmful waste, unskillful application of fertilisers and pesticides, unnecessary cutting down of trees and destruction of vegetation. There is a number of possibilities to bring to an end man' s degrading activities on the environment, but more of them will not bring anticipated results if they will not be based on pro-ecological education of man. Creating pro-ecological fundamentals, faced by a number of barriers resulting from educational and cultural patterns, is a key to improve the state of the natural environment in Poland, mainly in rural areas.