Land System Couplings: From Telecoupling to an Integrated Framework and Its Application in Slovakia

Land-use change, climate change, and biodiversity loss require integrated analytical frameworks to address multi-scalar human–nature interactions. While the classical telecoupling framework effectively captures long-distance flows, it often overlooks the dense institutional and regional dynamics specific to the European context. This paper addresses this gap by synthesizing telecoupling research and operationalizing an integrated coupling framework rooted in metacoupling theory. Methodologically, a systematic literature review of 138 publications was conducted following PRISMA guidelines to evaluate contemporary indicators. The review revealed a strong predominance of quantitative methods in non-review articles and declared need to shift towards more complex, integrative models, while highlighting a critical scarcity of European-centered studies. Preliminary empirical application of the framework within the Horizon Europe Europe-LAND project—focusing on the LTSER Trnava region in Slovakia—indicates, based on interim findings, certain socioecological disparities and imbalances in decision-making influence. Specifically, highly land-dependent local actors appear to have limited leverage in legislative processes, which is further complicated by communication gaps between research institutions and primary land users. To achieve sustainable land management, European and national policies must transition from purely material flow analysis to causal institutional frameworks that counterbalance developer pressures and actively empower local agricultural practices.