Management options in the buffer zones of protected areas in the South Caucasus - socio-economic and institutional background and economic preferences

The South Caucasus is a mosaic created of different cultures, political situations and an incredible variety of nature. Due to a very high number of plant and animal species, the Caucasus region is one of the biodiversity hotspots and allotted a markedly high priority for additional conservation measures. Implementing, extending and asserting nature reserves postulate significant costs in form of usage restrictions from local population living close to these areas, while the economic profiteers of biodiversity mostly are in countries of higher national income. As the South Caucasus is in a ...