European policies have shown that the integration of environmental instances in
the planning process and the sustainable land development are major objectives. The aim of
this paper is to discuss the chronological evolution of the ecological network concept, some
of the experiences at the European level and in the Alpine–Adriatic region and the role of agricultural
areas in ecological connectivity. A case study on mapping High Nature Value Farmland
(HNVF) in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region (Italy) shows the importance of HNVF in the creation
of a regional ecological infrastructure, as well as some problems associated with their identification
and mapping at regional and trans-boundary
levels.
