Introduction

This book provides a wealth of information for all those involved in using ecological networks for biodiversity protection and environmental management, as well as their significance for planning. It describes the concept of ecological networks, and presents methods and real-world examples of the use of a territorial system of ecological stability (TSES) in Slovakia at national, regional and local levels, including the assessment of the significance of biocentres, biocorridors and interactive elements. Using both a functional model for preserving the living conditions of habitats or preventing their collapse, and the connectivity of biotopes in a landscape as an original type of ecological network based on landscape-ecological principles, TSES represents a modern concept of nature and biodiversity protection based on the principles of protection of the conditions and forms of biota.