Can spatial planning in the Polish Carpathians be enforced? How spatial chaos indicators depict a gap between scientific knowledge and practice

Abstract Despite their strategic hydrological importance for neighbouring areas, the Polish Carpathians are experiencing spatial chaos, which may weaken their adaptability to the progressive climate change. The article attempts to answer the question of whether spatial planning, which is supposed to guarantee spatial order, fulfils its role and whether the knowledge of the natural conditions of spatial development is respected in the spatial planning process. Using GIS techniques, up to 238 communes were analysed in terms of their spatial coverage, the degree of scattered settlement, and the violation of natural barriers by location of buildings in areas that are threatened with mass movements or floods; by settlement on excessively inclined slopes and in areas with adverse climatic conditions. Spearman non-parametric rank correlation analysis and the multidimensional Principal Component Analysis (PCA) technique were performed to investigate relations between spatial chaos indicators and the planning situation. The analysis of the data has revealed that spatial planning does not fulfil its role. Serious errors in location of buildings have been noted even though the communes are covered by local spatial development plans. Scientific knowledge is not sufficiently transferred into planning documents, and bottom-up initiatives cannot replace systemic solutions. There is a need for strengthening the role of environmental studies documents in the spatial planning system. This would facilitate the transfer of scientific knowledge into the planning process and help to protect mountain areas. The development of a special spatial strategy for the Polish Carpathians in compliance with the Carpathian Convention is also recommended.