LOCAL ACTION GROUPS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL AREAS IN LUBELSKIE VOIVODESHIP (POLAND)

The aim of the study was to identify, basing on a literature review, the importance of Local Action Groups (LAGs) in the creation of rural development and to determine (basing on an empirical study) the role of LAGs in stimulating the neo-endogenous development mechanism of Lublin voivodeship. The area of the study included 40 municipalities of Lublin voivodeship (3 0 municipalities from the group with the highest environmental preciousness and 10 comparative municipalities from the group with the lowest environmental value in Lublin voivodeship, according to the index developed by D. Guzal-Dec). The study was conducted on a group of 16 LAGs (61.5% of total in the voivodeship), associating the above-mentioned 40 local governments. The study used the method of document analysis and diagnostic survey with an interview questionnaire addressed to the heads of municipalities. LAGs' local development strategies as well as the official websites of associations and projects of cooperation were the source of information about the LAGs. As shown, the investigated LAGs constitute an important but under-used instrument for creating local development, basing on the innovative use of local resources in supra-local projects. It is then appropriate to provide educational support for LAGs and to promote good practices in the area of the innovative use of resources in the LAGs.