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Nature reserve

life science Maturity 11-13 Next article →

A nature reserve is a special area of land meant to keep nature safe.

Jefferson Memorial Forest-Bee Lick Creek
Jefferson Memorial Forest-Bee Lick Creek

These places protect plants, animals, and fungi. They also protect special rocks or geological features. People manage these lands for conservation. Conservation means looking after the natural world. Many reserves also provide places for scientists to do research. This helps us learn how living things grow and change.

Charles Waterton
Charles Waterton

Some areas are called wildlife refuges or biosphere reserves. They are often more strictly protected than a regular nature park.

Protecting land is a way to help nature stay in balance. In some reserves, humans are not allowed to interfere with the environment. This helps the natural processes of the land continue on their own. In Brazil, some reserves are called ecological stations. In these places, people can only visit for science or school trips. Scientists can even make small changes to the land to help research. These small changes must stay within strict limits. This ensures the ecosystem stays healthy and diverse.

People have protected nature for a very long time. In the 3rd century BC, King Devanampiya Tissa made a sanctuary in Sri Lanka. Many ancient cultures had sacred areas where hunting and fishing were forbidden. The first modern nature reserve was made in 1821. A man named Charles Waterton created his reserve in West Yorkshire, England.

Charles Waterton
Charles Waterton

He spent £9000 to build a wall that was nine feet tall. This wall was three miles long and kept poachers away. He even made nest boxes to help birds like starlings find homes.

Many different countries have their own ways of managing these lands.

Tarvasjõgi
Tarvasjõgi

In Australia, many areas use the name nature reserve. In Canada, the government protects 55 National Wildlife Areas. These areas are overseen by the Canada Wildlife Act. Egypt has 30 nature reserves that cover 12% of its land. The largest one there is called Gebel Elba. In Germany, there were over 5,000 nature reserves in 1995. Many of these were located in Bavaria and Lower Saxony.

Nature reserves can look very different depending on where they are.

Termeszetvedelmi terulet
Termeszetvedelmi terulet

In England, a reserve might be a windy coast or an old forest. Some reserves even grow on old, abandoned railway lines. In Hungary, the Hortobágy National Park has large grasslands and marshes. You can see animals like buffalo and Hungarian horses there.

Szczeliniec Wielki 2007
Szczeliniec Wielki 2007

In Kosovo, there are beautiful mountain parks like Bjeshkët e Nemuna. Whether it is a desert or a forest, these places keep our world wonderful.

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🖼️ Images & Media (13)
File:Jefferson Memorial Forest-Bee Lick Creek.jpg
Jefferson Memorial Forest-Bee Lick Creek.jpg
File:Charles Waterton.jpg
Charles Waterton.jpg
File:Drachenfels (Siebengebirge) from Rhöndorf.jpg
Drachenfels (Siebengebirge) from Rhöndorf.jpg
File:Golyamata-Gramada.jpg
Golyamata-Gramada.jpg
File:Tarvasjõgi.jpg
Tarvasjõgi.jpg
File:Termeszetvedelmi terulet.JPG
Termeszetvedelmi terulet.JPG
File:Parku Kombëtar Bjeshkët Nemuna, Liqeni i madh ne Liqenat, Rugove.jpg
Parku Kombëtar Bjeshkët Nemuna, Liqeni i...
File:Szczeliniec Wielki 2007.jpg
Szczeliniec Wielki 2007.jpg
File:Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, Iran - panoramio.jpg
Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, Iran...
File:Tramping or hiking in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park..jpg
Tramping or hiking in Aoraki Mount Cook...
File:PenasBlancas, part of the Bosawas Reserve, Jinotega Department, Nicaragua.jpg
PenasBlancas, part of the Bosawas...
File:Лес вокруг г.Ямантау.jpg
Лес вокруг г.Ямантау.jpg

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