Protected Area

Protected areas are parks, ecological reserves, and other tracts set aside from intense development to conserve their natural ecological values. These areas protect the habitat of endangered species, threatened ecological communities, or representative examples of widespread ecosystems, referred to as indigenous (native) biodiversity values. Some protected areas are intended to conserve places of scenic beauty, or sites of historical or cultural importance. Most protected areas are terrestrial, but since the late 1980s, increasing attention has been paid to marine areas as well. Human activities that do not severely threaten the ecological values being conserved take place in some protected areas. Examples of theses activities include, research, education, ecotourism, spiritual activities, even hunting, fishing, and timber harvesting.