Acta Scientiarum Polonorum

The aim of the article is to present alternatives to the future development of rural areas in the suburbs of
large cities such as Warsaw. The functional and spatial changes in the neighbouring areas of the Polish
capital perfectly illustrate what is also happening in other metropolises. Unfortunately, not only the main
city itself but also the neighbouring municipalities experience investment pressure. This process consumes
more and more areas and favours their irrational spatial and functional development, which has its negative
environmental effects. In the face of threats that result from climate change, instead of looking for
solutions that are logistically and technologically complicated, resources that are still available around
large cities can be used. Undoubtedly, in addition to natural landscape areas, such areas may be agricultural
areas. Instead of re-qualifying them, their potential can be used in creating an eco-resilient suburbs
system, which is also the ecological base of the main city. The aim of the article is to draw attention to the
condition, resources and adaptation possibilities of rural areas in the suburbs of Warsaw, which, like other
large Polish cities, needs new ecological solutions. The study used the Statistics Poland (Główny Urząd
Statystyczny) data and conclusions resulting from the literature review on the studied issue, as well as
analysis of planning documents.