Transforming Conservation Landscapes: Participatory Approaches and Community Belonging in Restoration Projects in Georgia

Aleksandre Mikeladze
Additional contact information
Aleksandre Mikeladze: Caucasus University, Society for Nature Conservation (SABUKO), Tbilisi, Georgia

European Journal of Social Science Education and Research Articles, 2026, vol. 13

Abstract: This paper examines the intersection of conservation practice, community participation, and belonging through a case study of SABUKO (Society for Nature Conservation) in Georgia. Drawing on documentary analysis of multiple conservation initiatives, including grassland restoration in the Kakheti steppes, landscape connectivity planning, and youth empowerment initiatives, the study explores how environmental organizations can either reproduce or challenge existing power structures that determine who belongs in conservation spaces. The findings reveal recurring relationship between expert-driven and community-centered approaches, and highlight the importance of creating genuinely inclusive governance mechanisms. SABUKO's evolving practice, shifting from species-focused interventions to integrated landscape restoration with socio-economic dimensions, offers insights for conservation organizations seeking to balance ecological and social equity objectives.

Keywords: conservation governance; community participation; biodiversity restoration; youth empowerment; place attachment; social capital (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://revistia.com/index.php/ejser/article/view/3441 (text/html)
https://revistia.com/files/articles/ejser_v13_i1_26/Mikeladze.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eur:ejserj:429

DOI: 10.26417/f1q0sx89

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in European Journal of Social Science Education and Research Articles from Revistia Research and Publishing
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Revistia Research and Publishing ().