A new ecosystem services approach to enable identification of pro-biodiversity businesses of protected karst areas in Central and South-Eastern Europe
Abstract
Protected areas are a leading conservation tool for preserving biodiversity. However, the restrictions on human uses often engender resistance of local communities to the idea of living in protected environment. This paper describes the preparation of Biodiversity Investment Opportunities (BIO) maps for seven case areas in Central and South-Eastern Europe, using participatory methods. BIO maps have been further developed with the in-volvement of local stakeholders to define areas that can support economic activities while achieving a no net loss or even benefits for nature. The BIO maps can then be used to foster the development of Pro-Biodiversity Businesses (PBBs). PBBs are enterprises that generate financial returns without compromising the natural envi-ronments they depend on. PBBs were found to be a viable solution, effective in changing the perceptions of both the park managers and the local people towards the protected areas. Moreover, these enterprises can improve the local livelihoods, as well as actively protect nature and biodiversity. Therefore, the approach presented in this paper can be adopted as a model for managing any protected area and conserving cultural landscapes.
Citation
Gorjanc , S , Simončič , T , Poljanec , A , Kuslits , B , Arany , I , Tanács , E , Vári , Á , Aszalós , R , Drasovean , A , Mosr , A , Maeso Velasco , L , Reuter , A & Gattenlohner , U 2022 , ' A new ecosystem services approach to enable identification of pro-biodiversity businesses of protected karst areas in Central and South-Eastern Europe ' , Hungarian Geographical Bulletin , vol. 71 , no. 2 , pp. 181-195 . https://doi.org/10.15201/hungeobull.71.2.6
Publication
Hungarian Geographical Bulletin
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
2064-5147Type
Journal article
Rights
Copyright (c) 2022 The Author(s). Open Access. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Description
This study was completed in the frame of the project ECO KARST – Ecosystem services of karst protected areas – driving force of local sustainable development, funded by Interreg Danube Transnational Programme.Collections
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