The growing world population and global market competition are putting pressure on high-yield food production, reducing the space available for low-intensity agricultural practices that support high biodiversity. In search of synergies between different environmental policy instruments, the potential of drinking water protection zones (WPZ) for high nature value (HNV) farmland conservation and connectivity in the Lower Savinja Valley in Slovenia was examined. In drinking water protection zones, restrictions of fertilizer and pesticide use are enforced, which have demonstrated beneficial effects on biodiversity. Overall, HNV farmland covered 25.8% of the area, of which 6% was protected in almost equal proportions by Natura 2000 sites and WPZ. Zonation prioritization assigned higher average scores to cells in WPZ compared to Natura sites and unprotected areas indicating high value of WPZ for HNV connectivity. The proportion of WPZ receiving the highest Zonation prioritization scores ranged from 23% to 70% depending on connectivity scale. Simulation of conversion of arable to HNV farmland on WPZ added 58.2 ha, and increased overall HNV farmland cover in the Lower Savinja Valley from 25.8% to 26.3%, further reinforcing the importance of WPZ for connectivity. Drinking water protection zones under different levels of protection cover approximately 20% of the territory of Slovenia. Given their large extent, we suggest that when planning for HNV farmland conservation and ecological networks within intensive agriculture dominated landscapes, WPZ should be evaluated for their potential and integrated into planning. Analysis focused on the spatial configuration of HNV farmland but lacked information on habitat quality, species presence and management practices in WPZ. Further studies of the effect of WPZ management restrictions on biodiversity are needed.

不断增长的世界人口和全球市场竞争给高产粮食生产带来了压力，减少了支持高生物多样性的低强度农业实践的可用空间。为了寻求不同环境政策工具之间的协同作用，研究了饮用水保护区（WPZ）在斯洛文尼亚下萨文尼亚山谷高自然价值（HNV）农田保护和连通性方面的潜力。在饮用水保护区，实施了化肥和农药使用限制，这对生物多样性产生了有益影响。总体而言，HNV 农田覆盖了 25.8% 的面积，其中 6% 受到 Natura 2000 站点和 WPZ 几乎同等比例的保护。与 Natura 站点和未受保护区域相比，分区优先级为 WPZ 中的小区分配了更高的平均分数，这表明 WPZ 对于 HNV 连接具有很高的价值。根据连接规模，获得最高分区优先级得分的 WPZ 比例从 23% 到 70% 不等。WPZ 上耕地向 HNV 农田转化的模拟增加了 58.2 公顷，并将下萨文贾山谷的 HNV 农田总体覆盖率从 25.8% 增加到 26.3%，进一步加强了 WPZ 对于互联互通的重要性。不同保护级别的饮用水保护区覆盖了斯洛文尼亚约20%的领土。鉴于其范围很大，我们建议在规划集约农业主导景观内的 HNV 农田保护和生态网络时，应评估 WPZ 的潜力并将其纳入规划。分析侧重于 HNV 农田的空间配置，但缺乏有关 WPZ 栖息地质量、物种存在和管理实践的信息。需要进一步研究 WPZ 管理限制对生物多样性的影响。