This book provides the first comprehensive assessment of ecosystem services (ES) for the territory of the Slovak Republic. Although the ES approach is widely used for the evaluation of the benefits of natural capital and biodiversity for people, this book has a unique character. It provides an assessment of 18 individual ES, which are divided into three main groups - provisioning, regulatory/supporting and cultural ES. For each of ES, a brief theoretical and methodological overview is given, followed by spatial assessment based on own original methodology and dataset of 40 map layers. Besides, an evaluation of main ES groups and overall ES assessment is realized.

This book emphasizes the key role of nature protection areas, large areas of forest ecosystems and mountain and sub-mountain areas, for the preservation of the various functions of the healthy landscape and ecosystems. The complexity of the book guarantees its usefulness - not only as the knowledge base for the territory of Slovakia but also as the methodological tool for worldwide researchers.

Associate professor and senior researcher at the Constantine the Philosopher University, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences in Nitra, Slovakia (from 2014). 1992-2016: Head of the Regioplan company (environmental planning & assessment). Master degree in Physical Geography (1985, Comenius University in Bratislava), PhD in Ecology and Environmental Sciences (2009, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra).
Research focus: - Sustainable development studies (National strategy of SD in Slovakia, System of SD indicators in Slovakia and Czech Republic, SD Index for world countries, several books and many articles in this topic), - Landscape and spatial planning, land use changes (landscape-ecological plans, green infrastructure projects) - Ecosystem services assessment (OpenNESS FP7 project 2013-2017, MAES national Slovak assessment, scientific articles). - Environmental impact assessment (screening and scoping projects, SEA for spatial planning) - Environmental politics (global, EU, national, local) Author or co-author of 16 book publications in the field of sustainable development, environmental studies and planning; and about 80 papers in scientific journals and proceedings. 

Ján ?ernecký (Editor)Coordinator for reporting obligations according to EU directives; since 2007 the head of Department for monitoring of biodiversity at State Nature Conservancy of Slovak Republic. At the actual position, he is coordinating and participating in projects involving different types of expertise dedicated mainly to Natura 2000 - data collection, mapping, monitoring systems for biodiversity, management planning, practical management of the protected sites etc. Recently nominated as expert in the expert group for reporting (EU working group) and as National reference centre (NRC) for biodiversity established on EU level, member of nationally designated group for assessment of ecosystem services (MAES) and expert group for climate change.  PhD. student since 2017 at Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra. Master degree with focus on protected areas, nature protection, management planning, ecosystem services, economic aspects of protected areas, communication, stakeholder involvement at Alpen - Adria University in Klagenfurt (Austria) and master degree in Environmental sciences at Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica (Slovakia).
Research focus: biodiversity, monitoring, nature conservation/protected areas, ecosystems and ecosystem services assessment, selected animal species research (mainly molluscs and birds).