Sustainable Landscape Approaches and Solutions in Small Municipalities in Rural Landscapes of Slovakia

This study explores the implementation of sustainable landscape approaches and nature-based solutions in small and mediumsized rural municipalities in Slovakia, which often lag behind urban areas in adopting such practices. While urban centres have seen a satisfactory number of good examples, small rural municipalities – typically with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants – face significant challenges in applying innovative, sustainable landscape strategies due to limited economic and human resources. The aim of this research was to highlight five exemplary case studies in rural Slovak municipalities, offering them as models of best practice and sources of inspiration for other rural communities. Through an initiative mapping process based on predefined topics and principles, followed by field visits, the study identifies key approaches that demonstrate how sustainable landscape solutions can be successfully implemented in resource-constrained environments.