The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of water movement on both qualita-tive and quantitative occurrence of macrophytes in lakes. We studied four lakes differentiated in respect of water supply (two flow and two inflow).The investigation included: determination of the buffer zones of lakes, analysis of land use forms and layout of the buffer zone, floristic charac-teristic of lakes littoral, characteristic of phytolittoral types, analysis of physical and chemical parameters of lakes. The buffer zone of the flow lakes was dominated by farmland, but there was no land meadow. In the inflow lakes co-dominated fields and forests in the buffer zone. The in-flow lakes characterized by greater species diversity, density and biomass of emergent macro-phytes. In all investigated lakes, in the zone of water supply, analyzed features of macrophytes, and selected chemical parameters of water, reached the highest value.

The aim of the study was evaluation of ecological potential of reservoirs, once complexes of fish ponds, which are currently covered by international form of nature conservation. An effort to identify the source of reservoirs’ water supply in biogenic substances has also been undertaken. Studied dam reservoirs, included in Natura 2000 site: a Special Protection Area (SPA) called ‘Uroczysko Mosty--Zahajki’ (PLH060014). The ‘Uroczysko Mosty-Zahajki’ consists of two neighboring, not very deep reservoirs: Mosty (390 ha) and Zahajki (240 ha), located in the Hanna river’s catchment area, a tributary of the Bug and Zielawa rivers entering the Krzna river. Studied reservoirs represented moderate (reservoir Zahajki) and bad (Mosty reservoir) ecological potential. The buffer zones of Mosty and Zahajki reser-voirs were dominated by large forest complexes. The studied reservoirs are supplied with rivers and ditches contaminated with nutrients. Mosty and Zahajki reservoirs, in spite of moderate and poor ecologi-cal potential, increase the water resources of the area, have a positive impact on the circulation of water and increase the landscape and recreational values of region.

The article presents the problem of the settlements development in the Ojców National Park (ONP) and its buffer zone, both located in the suburban area of Cracow (Poland). The aim of the research was to recognize the social perception of this phenomenon, as well as the residents opinion about the limitations in spatial management related to the functioning of the Park. Interviews were made among 204 residents, and 40 representatives of local self-governments, cultural institutions, associations, administrators of tourist facilities and entrepreneurs. The local community perceives constraints in the new buildings construction and in enlargement or modernization of the existing ones as the main problem for people living in the ONP or its buffer zone. Driven by their particular interests, residents advocate the further development of the settlements and tourist infrastructure within the Park and the buffer zone, the liberalization of regulations, and even the liquidation of the Park’s buffer zone. They do not understand that the natural and landscape values (highly appreciated by them) can be degraded due to these activities.

The Drentsche Aa catchment in The Netherlands, which has nearly untouched natural river valleys, is a designated Natura 2000 area. Agriculture is practiced on the adjacent higher-lying ground. A set of measures was drafted to achieve climate-proof solutions in the short term by reducing the effects of a drier climate on nature and agriculture. These measures must have no adverse effects. In order to check this, the Hunze and Aa’s Water Board investigated the feasibility of using groundwater for sprinkler irrigation in parts of the catchment. In the study, the SIMulation of GROundwater and surface water levels (SIMGRO) hydrological model was used in order to model future scenarios with different water level strategies and climate scenarios. The modelling examined various measures in the nature and agricultural areas to optimise the hydrological situation for both land use functions. In addition, the effect on the nature areas of abstracting groundwater for irrigation was determined for buffer zones of different widths. The findings have indicated the policy direction to be taken by both the water board and the province, as well as offer them opportunities to deal with the requests for withdrawals in the near future by the means of future-proof general rules.