This is the country’s first ever comprehensive study into the economic benefits of investing in protected areas and nature conservation. It brings stakeholder participation to a new level by directly addressing some of the key concerns people have about the costs of conservation. The study also showcases a model approach to sustainable environmental development—an integrated economic and ecological approach that fully takes into account the diverse interests of all the people most affected by the establishment of nature reserves. This study has been produced with the technical support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the financial support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF).