Regional Differentiations of the Potential of Cultural Ecosystem Services in Relation to Natural Capital—A Case Study in Selected Regions of the Slovak Republic

A study on the Historic Town of Banská Štiavnica and its vicinity reveals that terrain fragmentation, higher altitude, and larger areas of forests and protected lands significantly enhance the potential for cultural ecosystem services (ES) in the Slovak Republic. The Brezno region emerged with the highest values across all evaluated categories, including recreation, tourism, landscape aesthetics, natural and cultural heritage, knowledge base, and regional significance. Despite substantial monetary potential, these regions show limited intensive utilization of cultural ES. The research employed a matrix system combined with geospatial data to assess these regional differentiations, offering insights into how biophysical factors influence the provision of cultural benefits in small pilot regions.

Makovníková, J., Kološta, S., Flaška, F., & Pálka, B. (2022). Regional Differentiations of the Potential of Cultural Ecosystem Services in Relation to Natural Capital—A Case Study in Selected Regions of the Slovak Republic. Land, 11(2), 270. https://doi.org/10.3390/land11020270