The protection of the environment is a priority in all of the development activities and it bases on the concept of sustainable development which aims to improve standard and quality of living in the society taking into account the environmental conditions and possibility of using of its resources by the future generations. In the study was presented the activities that influence on the environment quality of rural areas on the example of Lower Silesia. Indicators of sustainable development for four spheres were used: ecologization of the spatial planning, protection and sustainable development of forests, trending the water proportions and the water quality. The study included 78 rural communes of Lower Silesia. The analysis was made in the period from 2008 to 2014. The results showed an increase in the value of indicators of environmental quality in rural areas of Lower Silesia.