Abstract

At the present time, ecological economics is one of the most widely used approaches to the analysis of economic development projects whenever they have bearing on specific eco-systems. This article illustrates possibilities of successfully applying the concepts of ecological economics to the analysis of projects aimed at the economic development of specially protected territories on the example of the economic development of the Kurshskaya Kosa (Curonian Spit) National Park.

From the viewpoint of the ecological-and-economic analysis of the Environment-Society-Economy system, the article investigates the economic, ecological, social aspects of the prospective development of the Kurshskaya Kosa (Curonian Spit) national park; the index of degradation is used as a non-financial integral index of the assessment of the prevailing condition of the national park. Based on conducted research, conclusions reached to the effect that it is necessary to render more precise a methodology for determining the recreational capacity of the national park as a specially protected national territory; evidence is provided for the need to reduce a recreational load on the national park. From the viewpoint of the concepts of ecological economics, the article provides rationale for a system of ecological restrictions and indices to be used in designing and building tourist- and recreation facilities at specially protected natural territories.

In the writing of this article, the authors use comparative analysis methods, induction and synthesis methods and mathematical methods.

The provisions and conclusions of this paper have a direct bearing on the formation of economic policies for the development of the national park as a specially protected territory and, in the final analysis, on the social status of the population living and working within the territory of the national park.

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