The Use of Selected Landscape Metrics to Evaluate the Transformation of the Rural Landscape as a Result of the Development of the Mining Function—A Case Study of the Puchaczów Commune

Landscape metrics have been used for years in research on the evolution of landscapes. They are also important process monitoring changes taking place functional and spatial structure rural areas. The main aim this article is to assess transformation landscape Puchaczów commune, which based a comparative analysis selected metrics. In due availability raw materials, mining industry has developed, decisive influence development region. study included schemes commune’s land cover from four periods: pre-war period, 1960s 1970s (i.e., shortly before construction hard coal mine), 1990–2000, 2020. Then, given time frames, with help FRAGSTATS version 4.2 program, following indicators were calculated: percentage coverage by particular units, number patches, mean class area, Shannon diversity index, Simpson index. A showed that commune was constantly transformed 1937–2020. Despite decrease area agricultural land, production remains dominant function commune. industrial areas smallest, but metric values do not reflect enormous environmental impact mine. broader description can therefore be obtained only combining use analyses units environment.