Selected aspects of sustainable development of rural areas

Economic development of rural areas guarantees stable employment for the local inhabitants and is prerequisite for implementing investments aimed at environmental protection. This article contains a number of examples of actions taken in compliance with the concept of sustainable development in the fields that represent the pillars of economic, environmental and social governance. In addition, the article presents objectives and conditions for the economic development of rural areas in the European Union and Poland. Attention was devoted to the growth of agritourism – especially in the context of sustainable tourism. The authors described the criteria for human resources development as well as the perception of villages as a place where local communities live and work. In addition, the possibilities to produce healthy food were discussed, as well as the methods of obtaining energy from alternative sources and environmentally-friendly technologies of waste treatment. The importance of widespread environmental education among rural communities for sustainable development was emphasised.