Protected area
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Protected areas are locations which receive protection because of their environmental, cultural or similar value. A large number of kinds of protected area exist which vary by level of protection and by the enabling laws of each country or rules of international organization.
A protected area as defined by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) is An area of land and/or sea especially dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biological diversity, and of natural and associated cultural resources, and managed through legal or other effective means.
The ICUN specifies six categories of protected areas:
- I. Strict Nature Reserve/Wilderness Area: protected area managed mainly for science of wilderness protection
- II. National Park: protected area managed mainly for ecosystem protection and recreation
- III. Natural Monument: protected area managed mainly for conservation of specific natural features
- IV. Habitat/Species Management Area: protected area managed mainly for conservation through management intervention
- V. Protected Landscape/Seascape: protected area managed mainly for landscape/seascape protection and recreation.
- VI. Managed Resource Protected Area: protected area managed mainly for the sustainable use of natural ecosystems.
Protected areas by country
- Protected areas of Australia
- Protected areas of the European Union
- Protected areas of New Zealand
- Protected areas of the United Kingdom
- Protected areas of the United States
External link
- IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (http://www.iucn.org/themes/wcpa/)Template:Ecoregion stub