Mind the gapsPenko Seidl, Nadja (Avtor) Jerina, Klemen (Avtor) Golobič, Mojca (Avtor) Bordjan, Dejan (Avtor) Bevk, Tadej (Avtor) ecological connectivitysurrogate speciesspatial planningSloveniaAwareness of the need to shift conservation priorities from protecting isolated habitats to ensuring their connectivity has resulted in the development of several approaches to modelling landscape and ecological connectivity (EC). However, a significant gap between data and the knowledge of EC, and their implementation in spatial planning practice, remains. The presented research has two objectives: to collect, interpret and map existing knowledge and data on EC in Slovenia, and to showcase the possibility for its inclusion into Slovenian spatial planning practice. The surrogate species concept was adopted to address the first objective, followed by two case studies. The concept covers the main groups of terrestrial and flying species with broad habitat and connectivity requirements, sensitivity to anthropogenic disturbances, and conservation status: large carnivores, ungulates, waterfowl, and soaring birds. The concept utilizes existing studies and data on EC for specific species and enables generalized EC mapping that is suitable for spatial planning—the contribution of this article is thus in the usable reinterpretation of existing data. The sites of special concern for each species group are presented on habitat and corridor maps. The proposed concept offers a comprehensive yet robust and pragmatic tool for implementing EC in spatial planning practice, as showcased in the case studies. Although the data were collected and tested within the Slovenian territory and spatial planning framework, the robustness of the concept allows its modification and adaptation to other environments.20262026-09-15 15:29:54Članek v reviji187862sl