Nature Reserves

We explain what nature reserves are, how they are classified and their functions. Also, what are its characteristics and its importance.

What are nature reserves?

Natural reserves are areas that seek to protect and conserve the flora, fauna, soils and hydrography of a region.. In addition, they are usually important places for the culture of nearby communities and the native peoples of the place, so their conservation also pursues a social objective.

This type of reservation They are used for scientific research, education and environmental trainingand can also be used for tourist purposes. The recognition of a nature reserve is a decision of the governments of each place. There are provincial and national nature reserves, and sometimes they can even have international recognition and be part of the UNESCO World Heritage.

On the other hand, natural reserves—and protected areas in general—constitute a fundamental strategy to conserve biological and cultural diversity in the long termand to guarantee the development and maintenance of essential ecosystem services for nature and society, such as the production of oxygen and the capture of CO₂flood prevention by water absorption, soil consolidation and erosion reduction, among others.

See also: Sustainable development

Functions of nature reserves

The main functions of nature reserves are:

• Biodiversity conservation. Nature reserves are essential for the conservation of flora, fauna and biodiversity in general.
• Ecosystem maintenance. Nature reserves, by maintaining fundamental ecological processes and protecting habitats, guarantee the stability of ecosystems and preserve them from possible natural or human disturbances.
• Promotion of scientific research and environmental education. Nature reserves serve as laboratories for scientific research. The information derived from these investigations not only contributes to academic knowledge, but also serves as a basis for the development of conservation and environmental management strategies.
• Valuation of ecosystem services. Nature reserves play a crucial role in providing life-sustaining ecosystem services. From climate regulation to water purification, oxygen provision and erosion protection, these areas are essential for humans in general and contribute directly to the well-being of nearby communities.
• Preservation of cultural and landscape heritage. Beyond their ecological importance, nature reserves also house landscapes and habitats that have cultural and social value. The preservation of these environments contributes to the cultural identity of societies.

Types of protected areas

The main types of protected areas that exist are:

• National parks. They are areas that seek to preserve the scenic and landscape beauty of a place. All economic exploitation is prohibited, with the exception of tourism.
• Natural monuments. They are areas, natural elements or living species of animals or plants that have aesthetic, cultural, historical and scientific interest. Their absolute protection is agreed.
• National reserves. They are areas that seek the preservation of ecological systems. They allow urban settlements.
• Strict nature reserves. They are areas in which the undisturbed maintenance of essential biological and ecological processes is sought. All activities that could alter these processes are prohibited.
• Wild nature reserves. They are areas of considerable extension that preserve the wild quality of their natural environment unchanged or very little modified.
• Educational nature reserves. They are areas that, due to their location contiguous or close to strict or wild nature reserves, provide special opportunities for environmental education or nature interpretation. Its objectives are to teach the values ​​inherent in the protection of biological diversity.
• Marine protected areas. These are areas in which marine ecosystems are sought to be conserved. Sports activities, fishing, military exercises and economic exploitation are prohibited.

History of protected natural areas

The first attempts to allocate areas for the protection of wildlife appeared in ancient times. Perhaps the most important is that of King Devanampiya Tissa of Sri Lanka, in the 3rd century BC. C., who sought to protect the surroundings of the town of Mihintale. Although the concept of a “nature reserve” may not have been applied at the time, the measure established a precedent for the valuation of fauna and flora in ancient times.

The modern concept of a “national park” appeared in 1872.with the designation of Yellowstone National Park in the United States. This historic milestone not only established the world's first national park, but also served as an impetus for the adoption of conservation policies in other parts of the planet.

At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, a proliferation of nature reserves began to occur throughout the world.. The Royal Sydney National Park in Australia (1879) and the Nahuel Huapi National Park in Argentina (1903) are emblematic examples of the global expansion of these conservation initiatives.

Main protected natural areas in the world

Some of the best-known natural reserves in the world are:

• Qiangtang Nature Reserve, China.
• Marine reserve of the Galapagos Islands, in Ecuador.
• Ngaanyatjarra Indigenous Lands Protected Area, Australia.
• Yellowstone National Park, in the United States.
• Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.
• Yosemite National Park, in the United States.
• Kruger National Park, in South Africa.
• Tambopata Natural Reserve, in Peru.
• Kanaima National Park, in Venezuela.
• Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, in Mexico.

References

• Bordino, J. (2021). What are protected natural areas?. EcologyGreen. https://www.ecologiaverde.com/
• Eco Consciousness. (2012). What is a nature reserve? https://www.concienciaeco.com/
• Ecoworld. (2021). What are protected natural areas?. https://www.ecomundo.com.ar/
• Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of the Argentine Nation. (sf). Conservation Categories. https://www.argentina.gob.ar/