Soils of Russian European North were investigated in terms of stability and quality of organic matter as well as in terms of soils organic matter elemental composi-tion. Therefore, soil humic acids (HAs), extracted from soils of different natural zones of Russian North-East were studied to characterize the degree of soil organic matter stabilization along a zonal gradient. HAs were extracted from soil of different zonal environments of the Komi Republic: south, middle and north taiga as well as south tundra. Data on elemental composition of humic acids and fulvic acids (FAs) extracted from different soil types were obtained to assess humus formation mechanisms in the soils of taiga and tundra of the European North-East of Russia. The specificity of HAs elemental composition are discussed in relation to environmental conditions. The higher moisture degree of taiga soils results in the higher H/C ratio in humic substances. This reflects the reduced microbiologic activity in Albeluvisols sods and subsequent conser-vation of carbohydrate and amino acid fragments in HAs. HAs of tundra soils, shows the H/C values decreasing within the depth of the soils, which reflects increasing of aromatic compounds in HA structure of mineral soil horizons. FAs were more oxidized and contains less carbon while compared with the HAs. Humic acids, extracted from soil of different polar and boreal environments differ in terms of elemental composition winch reflects the climatic and hydrological regimes of humification.

At present, an intensive increase in housing development in suburban areas can be observed — both private, single-family developments and projects in the form of single- and multi-family housing complexes carried out by companies specialising in this field. These projects, known as developer-built projects, have already become a permanent part of the landscape of Polish suburbs. Spatial and demographic analyses of the rural municipalities of the Kraków Metropolitan Area (KMA) presented in this paper indicate the largest concentrations of this type of development. Moreover, they make it possible to indicate certain directions in which these trends are heading, the pace of their changes and their interrelationships. These analyses may provide guidance to project sponsors, local authorities, or legislators on what measures to take to prevent, as far as possible, any negative effects that may be caused by uncontrolled development or spatial, urban, and architectural chaos.