The Pastoral Ecosystems of the Central Caucasus under Impact of the Current Stock-Raising
The current use and conditions of mountainous pastoral ecosystems were studied, and vegetation and soil changes under various grazing pressure and natural environment are shown. The traditional centuries-old range management system was damaged after the kolkoz system collapse. Present extensive uncontrolled pasture farming uses the nearest meadow-steppe and steppe pastures: alpine and subalpine ranges and hayfields within the forest zone are underutilized. These processes result in the increase of vegetation and soil heterogeneity and such complication of landscapes structure that may disturb environment of mountainous biota. A few research tasks, required for forecasting the social transformation influence on mountain environment and resources, are offered.