What does protected area mean, classification of various types, which categories are recognized worldwide and what they include, protected areas in Italy.
Meaning of protected area
By protected area is meant a portion of well-defined territory, where there are well-defined restrictions on human use.
Protected areas are also commonly called reserves or natural oases and are assigned the task of preserving the environmental balance in a well-defined place, with consequent increase in biodiversity.
The landscapes of these natural areas can be very heterogeneous with each other and inhabited by a multitude of animal and vegetable species, sometimes even rare.
There is a classification drawn up on the basis of the type of restrictions applied, very variable if you compare those in force in the various countries.
The nationally recognized categories include national parks, hunting reserves, integral reserves and biosphere reserves.
The first area in the world to be recognized as a national park was Yellowstone, located in the United States of America and established as such in 1872.
Subsequently, classified areas have emerged in other states as protected areas, as a consequence of an increasing awareness of issues relating to the protection and recovery of the natural environment.
As for the protected areas present in Italy, about one tenth of the territory is placed under environmental protection.
As many as 18 national parks, 46 wetlands, 146 state reserves, 5 marine nature reserves and 145 nature reserves have been recognized.
