A decision support system for effective implementation of agro-environmental measures targeted at small woody landscape features: The case study of Slovenia

Years of agricultural intensification across Europe’s plains, valleys and hills had left behind a more or less generalized land use pattern dominated by profitable land cover types. Small landscape features with no direct (financial) benefit to the farmer, have been, in many cases, removed and converted to arable land. This study investigates the possibilities to integrate small woody landscape features (SWLF) into the new (2023–2027) CAP measures, which are in conjunction with the EU Green Deal ambitions and support biodiversity preservation in agroecosystems. A spatial SWLF preservation/restoration algorithm, based on the most recent European (SWF2018) and improved national level (SWLF2015) status databases, was developed and then applied to identify priority SWLF management regions and areas in Slovenia. In addition, a self-standing (LPIS independent) information, monitoring and decision support system has been designed for a target priority area (Goričko) in different spatial scales (from regional, 1 km, 300 m, AH to parcel level) to bypass existing gaps in SWLF-targeted CAP measure implementation strategies in Slovenia. Such results are urgently needed across all European countries to easier, faster and better realize CAP national strategic plans.