The updated Slovak National Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 is a key document in the field of biodiversity protection, and assessment together with mapping of the value of different ecosystem services is one of its most important objectives. This study applies the first non-monetary assessment and pilot mapping of agroecosystem services in the Slovak Republic at seven model sites located in the main climatic areas and estimates the agroecosystem services potential of Slovakia as a rural country with a transformed multi-criteria approach used at national level. It suggests that the distribution of the value of agroecosystem services is geographically different probably due to climatic conditions, slope and soil texture. Our assessment provides a suitable basis for further investigation of agroecosystem services and contributes to optimizing sustainable land use management in Slovakia.

Land users and policy makers recognize importance of soil health and these types of evaluations are welcomed within sustainable land management. The aim of this study was to establish minimum and maximum values of soil health index across the breadth of agricultural used soils of Slovakia. Core objectives included (1) identifying the range of soil health benchmarks; (2) defining benchmarks for different land uses, and (3) defining benchmarks of soil health index for main groups of agricultural soils in Slovakia. These benchmarks represent the first soil health metrics of their kind in Slovakia using data from 266 locations. The soil health index (SHI) approach has been used as a quantitative tool to establish linkage between soil health and soil ecosystem services. We recorded the highest average SHI value in the very warm climatic region of the Slovak Republic, where the majority of agriculturally used arable soils (with an optimal pH value without contamination) are located. The locality with lowest SHI value is in a slightly warm area on soil used as arable soil with a very small depth of humus horizon, with by the pH value in an acidic area, and with a high content of clay. The typical SHI in humus-rich soil groups of Slovakia (Mollic Fluvisols, Chernozems and Cutanhic Luvisols) is higher contrasted with the typical SHI in other soil groups of Slovakia.

Cultural ecosystem services (ES) require a multidisciplinary approach. The aim of the study was to evaluate regional differences in the values of cultural ES in relation to natural capital in four small pilot regions of the Slovak Republic using a matrix system. The article is an approximation of the connection of the biophysical method of evaluation (matrix system) of cultural ES of natural capital with geospatial data at the regional level in the Slovak Republic. Within the natural potential of the ES cultural categories, we evaluated recreation and tourism, landscape character and aesthetics, natural and cultural heritage, knowledge base, and regional significance for the given region. The highest values of indices in all categories were found in the Brezno region. The results of the pilot regions of the Slovak Republic indicated that the terrain fragmentation in combination with a higher altitude and a larger area of forests and protected areas may represent significant factors influencing the potential of the area to provide the various benefits resulting from cultural ES. Even though there is significant monetary potential of cultural ES in the region, its intensive utilization is not readily apparent.

Agro-ecosystem services assessment and mapping are one of the main requirements for implementing the concept of ecosystem services into institutional decision-making within the European Union and worldwide. The aim of this study was to identify the most important regional drivers of the natural potential of regulating ecosystem services with agricultural soil in Slovakia, resulting in an original set of macro-scale spatial stratification criteria for agricultural land, and to estimate typical middle values of its potential in newly defined regions. The non-monetary assessment was based on natural environment parameters and land use factors. For the assessment of individual indicators of agro-ecosystem services, we utilized an expert scoring system. We evaluated ecosystem services on the basis of biophysical indicators that determine the corresponding soil functions and are part of the existing databases available in the Slovak Republic. The new methodological combination enabled us to provide unique mapping and assessment of agro-ecosystem services within Slovakia. Regional climate, land cover, and soil slope were identified as key factors impacting agro-ecosystem services potential within the country, which can be used as data stratification levels for further analyses. Linking the value of individual regulating agro-ecosystem services potential with geographical distribution can help to optimize its potential depending on the needs of the inhabitants living in different regions by introducing appropriate measures and can contribute to effective agricultural policymaking.

The growing demands of satisfying human well-being call for a sustainable way of managing the landscape, which requires the introduction of tools for evaluating and assessing ecosystem services. The aim of the study is to evaluate regional differentiations in the values of regulating ecosystem services in relation to natural potential in four small pilot regions of the Slovak Republic with the application of the modified matrix approach. The results in the pilot regions of the Slovak Republic indicated that the spatial distribution of individual ecosystems in the country, in combination with a higher altitude and a larger area of forests and protected areas, can represent significant factors influencing the potential of the territory to provide benefits resulting from regulating ecosystem services. Mountain areas generally have a higher capacity to provide regulating ecosystem services, mainly due to their rich forest vegetation. Regulating ecosystem services, to the greatest extent, reflects the multifunctionality of the territory.