Sustainable Integrated Land Use of the Eurasian Steppe

Rural Development - Rural Tourism - Steppe Routs

Rural Development

Rural development is currently in the focus of both national and regional interests of many stakeholders. Global changes taking place in the recent 5 years on the meat/milk and cereals market, rapid development of the market of plants cultivated for biofuel, and construction intensification have sparked interest to steppe areas.

As the project strategic goal is to create a viable rural land use system involving steppe (steppe ecosystems) biodiversity conservation and restoration, a special attention is paid to mechanisms and tools that contribute to sustainable rural development planning and regulation of agricultural and nature protection activities, i.e. land use plans, socio-economic plans, management (governance) plans, demonstration project development, and business models.

Using expertise accumulated by many experts, the project cooperates actively with Ukraine and Moldova Ministry of Agriculture towards designing of local rural development plans.

The elaboration of rural social development plans (management plans) is a relatively new experience that should not only take into account the local economic parameters and potential, but also consider the environmental component of the area’s development, its aesthetic value, and regional history. The project specialists help to develop plans that would be efficient and include maximum possibilities for the steppe rural regions to improve people’s life quality and at the same time not to ruin the natural beauty of the place.