Anature reserve (also known as awildlife refuge,wildlifesanctuary,biosphere reserve orbioreserve,natural ornature preserve, ornature conservation area) is aprotected area of importance forflora,fauna,funga, or features ofgeological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for purposes ofconservation and to provide special opportunities for study orresearch. They may be designated bygovernment institutions in some countries, or by private landowners, such as charities and researchinstitutions. Nature reserves fall into differentIUCN categories depending on the level of protection afforded by local laws. Normally it is more strictly protected than anature park. Various jurisdictions may use other terminology, such asecological protection area orprivate protected area in legislation and in official titles of the reserves.
Cultural practices that roughly equate to the establishment and maintenance of reserved areas for animals date back to antiquity, with KingDevanampiya Tissa ofSri Lanka establishingMihintale wildlife sanctuary, one of the world's earliestwildlife sanctuaries, in the 3rd-century-BC Anuradhapura Ancient Kingdom.[1] Early reservations often had a religious underpinning, such as the 'evil forest' areas of West Africa which were forbidden to humans, who were threatened with spiritual attack if they went there. Sacred areas taboo from human entry to fishing and hunting are known by many ancient cultures worldwide.[2]
The world's first modern nature reserve was established in 1821 by thenaturalist andexplorerCharles Waterton around his estate inWalton Hall, West Yorkshire. He spent £9000 on the construction of a three-mile long, 9 ft tall wall to enclose his park againstpoachers.[3] He tried to encourage bird life by planting trees and hollowing out trunks forowls to nest in.
Waterton invented artificialnest boxes to housestarlings,western jackdaws andsand martins; and unsuccessfully attempted to introducelittle owls from Italy.[4] Waterton allowed local people access to his reserve and was described byDavid Attenborough as "one of the first people anywhere to recognise not only that the natural world was of great importance but that it needed protection as humanity made more and more demands on it".[5]
Drachenfels was protected as the first state-designated nature reserve in modern-day Germany; the site was bought by thePrussian State in 1836 to protect it from further quarrying.
There are several national and international organizations that oversee the numerous non-profitanimal sanctuaries and refuges to provide a general system for sanctuaries to follow. Among them, theAmerican Sanctuary Association monitors and aids in various facilities to care for exotic wildlife.[8] The number of sanctuaries has substantially increased over the past few years.[citation needed]
In Brazil, nature reserves are classified by theNational System of Nature Conservation Units asecological stations (Portuguese:estações ecológicas) orbiological reserves (Portuguese:reservas biológicas). Their main objectives are preserving fauna and flora and other natural attributes, excluding direct human interference. Visits are allowed only with permission, and only for educational or scientific purposes. Changes to the ecosystems in both types of reserve are allowed to restore and preserve the natural balance, biological diversity and natural ecological processes.[10] Ecological stations are also allowed to change the environment within strictly defined limits (e.g. affecting no more than three percent of the area or 1,500 hectares (3,700 acres), whichever is less) for the purpose of scientific research.[11]Awildlife reserve in Brazil is also protected, and hunting is not allowed, but products and by-products from research may be sold.[10]
Wildlife refuges in Brazil have as their objective the protection of natural flora and fauna where conditions are assured for the existence and reproduction of species or communities of the local flora and the resident or migratory fauna. The refuges can consist of privately owned land, as long as the objectives of the unit are compatible with the landowners' usage of the land and natural resources. Public visits are subject to the conditions and restrictions established by the management plan of the unit and are subject to authorisation by and regulations of the main administrative and scientific research body.[12]
The Niagara Escarpment and the St. Lawrence River in Ontario are among the 18 nature reserves recognized by UNESCO in Canada.
As a federal government, Canada recognizes 55 National Wildlife Areas, containing species of ecological significance. This area is protected by legislation known as the Canada Wildlife Act, which is overseen by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change. About half of the habitat is marine habitat, and the remainder is terrestrial habitat.
Nature Conservancy Canada, Ducks Unlimited, and Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy, among others, protect nature reserves in Canada as well. As part of Canada's Ecological Gifts Program, these charities protect wilderness on privately owned lands.
There are 30 nature reserves inEgypt which cover 12% of Egyptian land. Those nature reserves were built according to the laws no. 102/1983 and 4/1994 for protection of the Egyptian nature reserve. Egypt announced a plan from to build 40 nature reserves from 1997 to 2017, to help protect the natural resources and the culture and history of those areas. The largest nature reserve in Egypt isGebel Elba (35,600 square kilometres (13,700 sq mi)) in the southeast, on theRed Sea coast.
Denmark hasthree national parks and several nature reserves, some of them inside the national park areas. The largest single reserve is Hanstholm Nature Reserve, which covers 40 km2 (9,900 acres) and is part ofThy National Park.
InSweden, there are30 national parks. The first of them was established in 1909.[13] There are almost 4,000 nature reserves in Sweden. They comprise about 85% of the surface that is protected by the Swedish Environmental Code.[14]
In Estonia, there arefive national parks, more than 100 nature reserves, and around 130 landscape protection areas. The largest nature reserve in Estonia isAlam-Pedja Nature Reserve, which covers 342 km2 (85,000 acres).
In 1995Germany had 5,314 nature reserves (German:Naturschutzgebiete) covering 6,845 km2 (2,643 sq mi), the largest total areas being in Bavaria with 1,416 km2 (547 sq mi) and Lower Saxony with 1,275 km2 (492 sq mi).
In Hungary, there are10 national parks, more than 15 nature reserves and more than 250 protected areas.Hortobágy National Park is the largest continuous natural grassland in Europe and the oldest national park in Hungary. It is situated on the eastern part of Hungary, on the plain of the Alföld. It was established in 1972. There are alkaline grasslands interrupted by marshes. They have a sizable importance because there are the fishponds. One of the most spectacular sights of the park is the autumn migration of cranes. Some famous Hungarian animal species live in Hortobágy National Park, such as the grey cattle, racka long-wool sheep living only in Hungary, Hungarian horses and buffalo. Hortobágy National Park has been a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site since 1 December 1999.
Nature reserves are one of the 11 types of protected areas in Portugal. As of 2012, Portugal had a total of 46 protected areas, which represented 6,807.89 km2 (2,628.54 sq mi) of land and 463.94 km2 (179.13 sq mi) of marine surfaces. Among the protected areas, nine are classified as nature reserve (Portuguese:reserva natural).[17][18]
About 5.18% of the area of Romania has a protected status (12,360 km2 (4,770 sq mi)), including theDanube Delta, which makes up half of this area (2.43% of Romania's total area).
There are 15 National Parks, and around 90 Natural Parks in Spain. Spain is the country with the most sites listed in theWorld Network of Biosphere Reserves.
There are 4 biosphere reserves (two of them are dated 1927 and 1874) and 17 nature reserves in Ukraine, covering 160,000 ha (400,000 acres). Ukraine administers40 national parks, 2632 habitat management areas, 3025 nature monuments, and 1430 other preservations.
There are now over 1,050local nature reserves in England. They range from windswept coastal headlands, ancient woodlands and flower-rich meadows to former inner-city railways, long-abandoned landfill sites and industrial areas now re-colonized by wildlife. In total, they cover almost 40,000 ha (99,000 acres)—a natural resource which makes an important contribution to England'sbiodiversity. A good example isRye Harbour Nature Reserve in East Sussex, where a network of footpaths enables visitors to explore shingle, saltmarsh, saline lagoon, reedbed, and grazing marsh habitats.
Through the Natural Heritage (Scotland) Act 1991 the Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) was established in 1992 as a government body, responsible to the Scottish Government Ministers and through them to the Scottish Parliament. At 31 March 2008, there were 65Scottish national nature reserves with a total area of approximately 1,330 km2 (510 sq mi). Section 21 of theNational Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 gives local authorities the exclusive statutory power to establish alocal nature reserve in consultation with the SNH.[19]
The biosphere reserves of Iran have a total land area of 1.64 million km2. The "reserves" support more than 8,000 recorded species of plants (almost 2,421 areendemic), 502 species ofbirds, 164 species ofmammals, 209 species ofreptiles, and 375 species ofbutterflies.[20]
India's 18 biospheres extend over a total of 85,940 km2 (33,180 sq mi) and protect larger areas than typical national parks in other countries. The first national reserve of India was established in 1986.
Israel's national parks are declared historic sites or nature reserves, which are mostly operated and maintained by the National Nature and Parks Authority. As of 2019, Israel maintains more than 490 nature reserves that protect 2,500 species of indigenous wild plants, 20 species of fish, 530 species of birds and 70 species of mammals. In total, they cover 6,400 km2 (2,500 sq mi) of nature reserves, approximately 28% of the country's land area. In 1984, the two areas with the highest number of nature reserves were the South (15.2%) andSamaria (the Shomron, 13.5%).[21]
Under the Nature Conservation Law, places can be designated as 'wilderness areas', 'nature conservation areas' and 'prefectural nature conservation areas'. In 1995, when the Japanese Government published its information in English, there were 5 wilderness areas, 10 nature conservation areas and 516 prefectural nature conservation areas.[22]
There are seven nature reserves inJordan. In 1966 the organization that would later start Jordan's nature reserves, theRoyal Society for the Conservation of Nature, was founded. RSCN's first efforts involved bringing back severely endangered species. In 1973, RSCN was given the right to issue hunting licenses, giving RSCN an upper hand in preventing extinction. The first step was the founding of Jordan's first nature reserve,Shaumari Wildlife Reserve, in 1975. The primary purpose was to create means to breed endangered species, specifically: theArabian oryx,gazelles,ostriches, andPersian onagers in their natural environment.
By the end of 2009 there were 10 nature reserves (Kyrgyz:корук,koruk) in Kyrgyzstan covering 600,000 hectares (6,000 km2) or about three percent of the total area of the country.
New Zealand has a variety of types of reserve, includingnational parks, various types of conservation areas (including stewardship land that is yet to be officially classified), and seven specific types of "reserve", each of which prioritize various degrees ofprotection to different amenities such as scenery, recreation, flora and fauna, scientific value, or history. Land is often sub-categorised beneath its general classification, as defined in law between theReserves Act of 1977, theNational Parks Act of 1980, and theConservation Act of 1987. Under these classifications, theDepartment of Conservation administers more than 80,000 square kilometres (31,000 sq mi)—nearly 30% of the nation's total area—with at least some degree of protection. This land is composed of 14 National Parks, 30 Conservation Parks, and approximately 8,900 discrete areas of land in total.
Although the most public land is strongly protected for natural preservation, the termnature reserve is specifically defined in the Reserves Act to mean a reserve that prioritizes the protection of rare flora and fauna, to the extent that public access is by permit only. Some of these reserves includeEcological Islands, a comparatively new concept in wildlife preservation, pioneered in New Zealand to help rebuild the populations of nearly extinct birds, and other species that are heavily threatened by introduced predators.
Peñas Blancas, part of theBosawás Biosphere Reserve is the second largest rainforest in the Western Hemisphere, after the Amazonian Rainforest in Brazil. Located northeast of the city ofJinotega in Northeastern Nicaragua.
InNicaragua, theMinistry of the Environment and Natural Resources (MARENA) is in charge of environmental protection and of the study, planning, and management of Nicaragua's natural resources. Nearly one-fifth of the territory is designated as protected areas like national parks, nature reserves (including theBosawás Biosphere Reserve), and biological reserves. Nicaragua has78 protected areas that cover 22,422 km2 (8,657 sq mi), about 17.3% of the nation's landmass. Private nature reserves exist with land excluded from private land trusts and maintained at the sole cost of the proprietor. For example, O Parks, WildLife, and Recreation, OrEl Ostional Private Wildlife Reserve, was established within theMesoamerican Biological Corridor by retiredFDNY firefighter Kevin Michael Shea, who purchased 46 acres (0.19 km2) of land for the purpose of restoring the ecological system of adry tropical forest, ravaged during theNicaraguan Revolution. Thepark provides a private nature reserve,wildlife corridor and verifiedcarbon credits.[23]
There are around 100 nature reserves (Russian:заповедник,romanized: zapovednik) in Russia, covering some 330,000 km2 (130,000 sq mi), or about 1.4% of the country's total area. A few of them predate theOctober Revolution of 1917, but most have been created during theSoviet Union era. There are also natural protected areas where only certain species are protected, or only certain activities are prohibited; those are known aszakaznik (Russian:заказник).
Unofficial sanctuaries can also occur as a result of human accidents; theChernobyl Exclusion Zone has in practice become a wildlife refuge since very few people live in the area. Wildlife has flourished in the zone since the Chernobyl nuclear accident in 1986.[24]
South Africa is well known for its many nature reserves. The oldest nature reserve in the country (and oldest conservation area in the world) is theGroenkloof Nature Reserve that was established in 1892 in the capital cityPretoria in the oldSouth African Republic and current Republic of South Africa.
The country has many national parks but the best-known is theKruger National Park, which was announced in 1898, and is the largest, at nearly 2,000,000 ha (20,000 km2). The Kruger Park andTable Mountain National Park are two of South Africa's most visited tourist attractions, along with theAddo Elephant National Park.
South Africa also has 10World Heritage Sites, including four natural sites and one mixed site. And it has provincialgame reserves includingShamwari,Londolozi, Sanbona and Lalibela. The country currently has 20 national parks covering 3,700,000 ha (37,000 km2), about 3% of the total area of South Africa.
ThePrince Edward Islands, which are South African territories in theSouthern Ocean, have been declared a special nature reserve. It is a highly protected area from which all human activity is excluded, except for conservation and scientific research.
The area aroundMihintale,Sri Lanka, was a sanctuary for wildlife,[25] probably the first of its generation in the ancient world. According to stone inscriptions found in the vicinity, the king commanded the people not to harm animals or destroy trees within the area.
In the United States, theU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, managed by theSecretary of the Interior, is responsible for managing many of the federal nature reserves including theNational Wildlife Refuge System. The National Wildlife Refuge System includes areas administered for the protection and conservation of fish and wildlife that are threatened with extinction, as well as wildlife ranges, game ranges, wildlife management areas, and waterfowl production areas.[26]
There are also state-level administered State Nature Reserves found throughout the country, as well as smaller reserves operated by local governments, private trusts, or even funded through public donations. Private nature reserves also exist, with land excluded from private land trusts and maintained at the sole cost of the proprietor, such as the 1,800 acres (730 ha)Wilbur Hot Springs.
^Weiner, Douglas R. (1988).Models of Nature: Ecology, Conservation, and Cultural Revolution in Soviet Russia. University of Pittsburgh Press. p. 29.ISBN978-0-8229-5733-1.
^Dariusz Bochenek (ed.)."Ochrona środowiska 2012"(PDF).Ochrona Środowiska. Warszawa: Główny Urząd Statystyczny: 277.ISSN0867-3217.Archived(PDF) from the original on 20 October 2013. Retrieved29 December 2012.
^List of Protected areas in Mainland Portugal, Portuguese Forest and Nature Conservation Institute:"Áreas Protegidas".INCF. Archived fromthe original on 4 November 2016.
^"Islamic Republic of Iran".United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. June 2015. Archived fromthe original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved19 December 2020.
^Hareuveni, Imanuel (1985).קום התהלך בארץ: מדריך שמורות טבע בישראל [Nature Reserves in Israel] (in Hebrew) (2nd ed.).Israel:Israel Ministry of Defense. p. 482.ISBN965-05-0193-2.חוק גנים לאומיים ושמורות טבע תשכ"ג – 1963. 'שמורת טבע' – שטח שבו נשמרים חי, צומח, קרקע, מערות או מים, שיש בהם ענין של מדע או של חנוך, מפני שינויים בלתי רצויים במראם, בהרכבם הביאולוגי או במהלך התפתחותם, וששר הפנים, לפי הצעת שר החקלאות או לאחר התיעצות אתו, הכריז עליו ברשומות שהוא שמורת טבע.
^"Nature Conservation in Japan". Ministry of the Environment, Government of Japan. 31 March 1995.Archived from the original on 30 January 2013. Retrieved24 September 2012.
^"Glossary".www.fws.gov. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, Division of Refuge Planning, Mountain-Prairie Region.Archived from the original on 11 April 2017. Retrieved10 April 2017.
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