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Construction and beginning of operation of reservoirs have significant impact on the environment. Resettlement of residents, flooding of a part of the river valley, changes in the river regime and ecosystems as well as mass movements are the most troublesome types of interactions. Such processes may be a little less noticeable when polders are designed. Management of geological resources i.e. mineral resources accumulated in the reservoir basin or in its vicinity is a significant task. It often happens that mineral deposits are lost as a result of construction of the reservoir. The study has analysed the balance of management of natural aggregates in the reservoirs in Świnna Poręba and Racibórz Dolny and examined methods of exploitation of the mineral deposits used as a local resource base for construction of the reservoirs and the related projects. The Świnna Poręba reservoir, due to extremely long time of its construction, was the area of long-term exploitation of mineral deposits. It allowed to mine a significant part of the potentially available raw materials (approx. 82.5% of the planned resources) located in the basin. Due to postponed completion of the construction and continuous demand for aggregates used to stabilize the occurring landslides, the amount of unexploited resources, which might be inevitably lost after filling in the reservoir, is constantly decreasing. The Racibórz Dolny reservoir had to cope with the problem of resettlement of inhabitants, despite the valid decision of its construction. Therefore, a significant dispersion of deposits has occurred which can result in significant loss of resources due to establishing operational and safety pillars within its artificially delineated boundaries. The results of the work enable to assess management of the mineral deposits taking into consideration their rational exploitation and identification of factors affecting efficiency of extraction of aggregates, including the time of completion of the project, methods of exploitation and uncontrolled loss of output. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The areas of the Colca Canyon and the Valley of the Volcanoes, located in the Arequipa region in the Central Andes, southern Peru, are distinguished for their unique geodiversity in the whole planet scale [10]. Currently, the INGEMMET Institute has submitted a proposal to designate the area as a geopark belonging to the UNESCO network [13]. The designation of the Colca and the Volcanoes of Andagua Geopark brings new opportunities to develop tourism. Inventory of geosites includes numerous geomorphological, geodynamic, volcanic, structural, tectonic, hydrogeological, sedimentological, palaeontological, stratigraphic, and palaeogeographical sites. Indication of accessibility of those sites will be an important stage of tourism development. The paper uses the results of research of the Polish Scientific Expedition to Peru, which since 2003 has been conducting extensive geological and environmental studies to document the values of the area. On the basis of spatial analyses, the conditions and limitations of making the geological sites accessible have been evaluated in regard to nature protection. It was a serious challenge to define the boundaries of usage of different environmental resources. Apart from the tourist industry, there are also other activities in the area, such as mining, agriculture, hydrotechnical and energy investments on a supra-local scale It is an urgent matter to define the rules of coexistence of different economic entities within the area of the future geopark. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to present the issues of mineral deposits protection on the background of the planning and road investments construction. The term "mineral deposits protection" is generally understood as the protection of area over mineral deposits from the work, which would make impossible or significantly restricted its future exploitation (e.g. sustainable buildings). Based on the analysis of available literature, cartographic materials and documentation it was rated a minimum of the mineral deposits availability, depending on the type of exploitation of mineral deposits. The subject of research was planned and built investments of national and provincial roads in Poland. In case of road investment conduction through or closely to documented mineral deposits, its exploitation may cause conflicts in varying scale and scope. The result of the study was to determine a confrontation of road investments and the presence of mineral deposits divided into conflicts: a) the road - operate hole and underground exploitation, and b) the road - opencast exploitation. In this regard were used concrete examples of conflicts arising from the planning and implementation of road investments in Poland. Depending on the scale and scope of the conflict the proposals are consequently developed to minimize the negative impact of road construction on the availability of mineral deposits. These results should be reflected in the mineral resources management, where the availability of mineral deposits should be considered as one of the key issues of sustainable economic development. In this aspect it was pointed out the significant role of spatial planning and the need to enhance the legal protection of mineral deposits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article aims to assess environmental changes and benefits of the construction of the connection road between the villages of Huambo, Ayo and the Colca Canyon. Unfortunately in addition to opening the window to the world, the road will contribute to a significant loss of valuable natural resources and landscape damage. The road will facilitate communication mainly between Orcopampa mining center and the capital of the department - Arequipa. It is estimated that the road will shorten the ride on this route from 16-18h to 8h. This is definitely clear acceleration. On the other hand, the road is planned in the area of exceptional geo-diversity. INGEMMET (Peru) initiated procedures for the preparation of the Colca Canyon and Valley of the Volcanoes Geopark belonging to the UNESCO network. The road will cross the central part of the Geopark which is the point where the Valley of the Volcanoes joins with the Colca Canyon. Article provides spatial analysis using GIS tools. Particular emphasis is placed on qualitative and quantitative changes in the environment and its economic potential. Economic development is expected on this route, e.g. services including tourism, so important for this area. The results will be used to determine the advantages and disadvantages of the project. In particular, the article discusses whether the losses outweigh the benefits and whether Canco villagers have the prospects for development of the settlements, and prospects for sustainable development. The results can provide significant help with designing works and establishing protection tasks for the Colca Canyon and Valley of the Volcanoes Geopark. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polish Scientific Expedition Peru (PWNP) has been documenting, unique in the world scale, environmental qualities of the Colca Canyon and the Valley of Volcanoes in south Peru since 2004. The study area is located on the active edge of the continent where development of the Andean orogeny and volcanic activity occur. The main goal of the PWNP is to protect geodiversity, the unusual landscape and values of animate nature and culture. Clearly visible records of structures and sedimentary environments, tectonic deformations, magmatic and volcanic processes, evolution of the area, and other features have been preserved in the walls of the Colca Canyon. There are areas of active tectonic and volcanic processes and landslides in its vicinity (e.g. in the Valley of Volcanoes). The Colca Canyon is the second, after Machu Picchu, the most often visited tourist destination in Peru. It is also the subject of strong investment pressure exerted especially by tourist and recreation industry. Unfortunately, the development takes place without any prepared plan or its impact assessment on places of highly rated environmental values. In the last few years, many rock outcrops and landscape zones have been seriously damaged by construction of hotels, tourist resorts or roads. Some of those investments have been discontinued due to too high costs, development of mass movements on the slopes or the lack of interest of potential users. The lack of set limits and scales of the development means that the basic natural values, which have been the main attraction of the area, are endangered there. The paper presents the concept of development of the area of the Colca Canyon and the Valley of Volcanoes according to principles of sustainable development. The results of indexation of the area covering identified environmental resources, including the ones endangered by anthropopression have been described and the areas suitable for certain forms of development have been identified. Scientists who were the members of the PWNP and representatives of naturalists and geologists from Peru claim that it is the last chance to preserve the true character and natural values of the Colca Canyon and the Valley of Volcanoes. The Institute IGEMMET (Peru) developed a project of Geopark project covering the Valley of Volcanoes, which is the first step to protect geological, especially volcanic phenomena, and to promote its tourist and educational values. Protection of geodiversity and landscape values, animate nature and culture require formation of the Colca Canyon and the Valley of Volcanoes National Park. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]