Paradigm shift of agroforestry in Slovakia: from an unknown concept to a concrete policy support scheme in less than 5 years

Abstract

Despite growing EU-level support, agroforestry remains poorly developed in many Central and Eastern European countries, including Slovakia. This study presents the first sociological assessment of agroforestry development in Slovakia, focusing on stakeholder perceptions, system preferences, and policy barriers. Using a qualitative, multi-actor case study approach, we conducted participatory fieldwork, focus groups, and open-ended surveys between 2022 and 2023. Findings reveal rapid growth in awareness and interest following targeted engagement activities. Stakeholders identified silvopastoral systems as particularly suitable for abandoned upland areas and silvoarable systems for intensively farmed lowlands. Environmental and cultural benefits-such as biodiversity enhancement, landscape aesthetics, and microclimate regulation-were key motivators, whereas economic incentives played a secondary role. However, structural barriers persist. Respondents cited legal ambiguity, limited advisory services, and restrictive implementation of the first agroforestry support measure under the CAP Strategic Plan (2023-2027) as major obstacles. Many viewed the policy as overly prescriptive and poorly aligned with on-the-ground realities. We conclude that participatory, context-specific approaches are essential to designing effective agroforestry policy. Slovakia's experience offers broader lessons for post-socialist countries aiming to integrate agroforestry into multifunctional land-use systems under the European Green Deal and CAP reforms.