ABSTRACT
Intensification of agricultural activity, in order to achieve higher production, brings many threats to the environment and ecosystem services. One of the most important services for sustainable development of rural areas is providing sufficient water for human consumption. Water pollution by chemical compounds originated from fertilisers and pesticides used by farmers is now impacting groundwater resources. Long term studies carried out by the Institute for Agricultural and Forest Environment showed that one of the best ways to counteract these negative impacts is increasing the complexity of the landscape structure by introducing of shelterbelt of selected vegetation which can control and limit the spreading of diffuse pollutants. Efficiency of the reduction of the concentration of chemical compounds in groundwater depends on the quantity of water taken by the shelterbelts from the saturated zone of the soil.
