1. Agricultural production in Plovdiv region: territorial dinamics and effects on rural areas

Land use and land use changes as a result of agricultural production have always been a challenge in governance territorial development of rural areas as well as finding appropriate tools and instruments to model their socio-economic characteristics and effects on the environment and natural resources. The crucial role of applied farming practices in sustainable rural development defines the territorial dynamics which are considered as a result of locals‟ choices of activities. The aim of the paper is to present a model of the territorial dynamics on the case study based in Plovdiv region, considering the driving forces and the effects on the different actors with a focus on agricultural production, including ecosystems.