Caucasus & Central Asia

Effectiveness of protected areas in the Caucasus Mountains in preventing rangeland degradation
As land use intensifies globally, it increasingly exerts pressure on protected areas. Despite open, nonforested landscapes comprising …
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The best of two worlds: using stacked generalization for integrating expert range maps in species distribution models

Aim: Species distribution models (SDMs) are powerful tools for assessing suitable habitats across large areas and at fine spatial …
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A novel, post-Soviet fire disturbance regime drives bird diversity and abundance on the Eurasian steppe
Many grassland ecosystems and their associated biodiversity depend on the interactions between fire and land-use, both of which are …
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A range-wide monitoring framework for the Persian leopard and its prey
The long-term survival of the Persian leopard Panthera pardus tulliana requires concerted regional conservation efforts. Understanding …
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Localized versus wide-ranging effects of the post-Soviet wars in the Caucasus on agricultural abandonment
Wars are frequent and can affect land use substantially, but the effects of wars can vary greatly depending on their characteristics, …
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Mapping the distribution and habitat of Persian leopard across its historical range
Persian leopards Panthera pardus tulliana, once widespread across Western and Central Asia, currently only occupy a fraction of their …
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Prioritizing livestock grazing right buyouts to safeguard Asiatic cheetahs from extinction
Livestock husbandry exerts major pressures on wildlife across the world. Large carnivores are particularly at risk because they are …
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Quantifying the relationship between prey density, livestock and illegal killing of leopards
Many large mammalian carnivores are facing population declines due to illegal killing (e.g. shooting) and habitat modification (e.g. …
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Societal drought vulnerability and the Syrian climate-conflict nexus are better explained by agriculture than meteorology
Droughts are often suspected to increase the risk of violent conflict through agricultural production shocks, and existing studies …
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Understanding spatial patterns of poaching pressure using ranger logbook data to optimize future patrolling strategies
Poaching is driving many species toward extinction, and as a result, lowering poaching pressure is a conservation priority. This …
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