Nature reserve

A nature reserve (natural reserve, nature preserve, natural preserve) is an area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research. Nature reserves may be designated by government institutions in some countries, such as the United Kingdom, or by private landowners, such as charities and research institutions, regardless of nationality. Nature reserves fall in to IUCN protected area management category Ia.

At the end of March 2004 there were 215 NNRs (National Nature Reserves) in England with a total area of 879 square kilometres. The Reserves are scattered through England, from Lindisfarne in Northumberland to The Lizard in Cornwall. Nearly every rural county has at least one. Derbyshire Dales NNR lies within the Peak District National Park. The reserve consists of five separate limestone valleys Lathkill, Cressbrook, Monk's, Long and Hay. These five dales represent some of the best examples of wildlife and geology in the White Peak.

Many NNRs contain nationally important populations of rare flowers, ferns and mosses, butterflies and other insects, and nesting and wintering birds. Examples include unique alpine plants at Upper Teesdale and the beautiful field of fritillary lilies at North Meadow Cricklade, Wiltshire.

In New Zealand a number of separate distinctions are made for the term nature reserves. Wilderness areas, National Parks, scenic reserves, scientific reserves and forest parks are all types of nature reserves with varying degrees of protection. A comparatively new concept in wildlife preservation, pioneered in new Zealand, is the Ecological Island.

The first country in the world to have a nature reserve (a wildlife sanctuary) was Sri Lanka, in the 3rd century BC[1].

See also

• Conservation designation
• Protected area
• Special Protection Area
• Biosphere Reserve
• Biodiversity
• National park
• Country park
• Pocket park
• Marine park
• Ecological Island
• United States Fish and Wildlife Service
  • National Wildlife Refuge
• The Nature Conservancy

• Royal Society for the Protection of Birds reserves (UK)