An Overview of Selected Tools and Strategies for Agricultural Land Protection in Slovakia and the European Union

Abstract Agricultural land, as a component of the environment, is one of the irreplaceable natural resources and, at the same time, through its functions, is an integral part of the quality of human lives. Several international institutions or scientists point to problems with land loss or decline in quality and, ultimately, to the increased need for soil protection, based on which governments implement various tools. The aim of the paper is therefore to compile a general overview of existing tools for the protection of agricultural land in Slovakia and to analyse selected strategies for land protection in the EU. The main source of information was represented by literary sources of publications by scientific researchers, Slovak and European bodies or institutions, and, last but not least, legal acts. The paper points to a wide range of existing tools and innovative strategies for the protection of agricultural land in Slovakia and the EU.