COUNCIL OF EUROPE

COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS

RESOLUTION (73) 30

ON THE EUROPEAN TERMINOLOGY FOR PROTECTED AREAS

(Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 26 October 1973 at the 225th meeting of the Ministers' Deputies)

The Committee of Ministers,

Conscious of the urgent need to set up in Europe a network of "protected areas" to conserve the biotopes which witness to our biological heritage on the one hand, and, on the other, to provide recreational areas where man may find the relaxa- tion required by his way of life;

Noting the efforts made by governments to increase the number of protected areas in their territories;

Aware that the measures taken or to be taken must be harmonised if a truly European network of protected areas intended for the conservation of landscapes, habitats and species and for recreation and research purposes, is to be created, as proposed in Resolution No. 1 of the European Ministerial Conference on the Environ- ment;

Having consulted the European Committee for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources,

Recommends governments of member States:

1. to use every available means to reinforce protective measures for existing "protected areas" and study the possibilities of establishing new areas;

2. to take into consideration, as far as possible, the principles set out in the Appendix to this resolution so as to harmonise protective measures at the European level;

3. to take into consideration, when revising legislative measures or drawing up new ones, the criteria defining the four categories which appear in the Appendix and which have permitted the establishment of a comparative table of nomenclature at present used in the various States.

- 99 - APPENDIX

I. Factors to be considered

(a) Scientific value

Here the object is to preserve the biotope, including its flora, fauna and land- scapes. However, the measures taken should be aimed not just at protecting the area con- cerned but at ensuring that it may be used for specific scientific research in the various sectors of biology. This research will seek to provide a fuller understanding of ecosystems and the interaction of their various ingredients, such as animal behaviour, flora/ fauna balance etc.

(b) Traditional human activities

These are activities concerned with the exploitation of natural resources, such as biological management, agriculture, grazing, hunting, fishing, forestry and mining.

It has now become difficult, particularly in industrialised European countries, to visualise nature protection and conservation in terms of cutting off whole tracts of land from all human influence, thus allowing the animal and plant populations to develop "naturally", for it has become evident that natural resources are, notwithstanding, modified by outside influences which may create serious imbalances for the species it is wished to protect.

In most cases, such traditional activities are necessary to maintain the biological equilibrium of an area, but they should be strictly supervised by experts and kept to a bare minimum.

(c) More recent human activities

These are activities which alter an area, either partially or completely. The erection of industrial, commercial or residential buildings, the provision of communication facilities (roads, ports, railways, airports), the establishment of high tension cables and telephone wires etc. can, unless they are properly planned, change an area's whole appearance. Per- mission to establish new human activities should be granted by the appropriate authorities, after consultation with experts.

(d) Recreational amenities

The planning of a protected area for recreational purposes involves the provision of certain amenities varying in size and nature according to frequency of use (cultural, sports and tourist facilities). However, these amenities must always be strictly subordinated to requirements of the area itself and of nature in general and must not destroy the quiet that man needs if he is to relax.

In the same way, any administrative facilities provided (staff housing, offices, workshops, garages, special roads) must be in keeping with the character of the protected area.

(e) Public access

This problem is currently proving the most difficult to solve in many protected areas, owing to the fact that visitors to them are increasing in number but have little knowledge of conservation problems. As a result, the general behaviour of the public in protected areas leaves something to be desired.

It is rarely possible to prohibit entirely the public from moving about a protected area; however, this factor should be taken into account in management planning with a view to visitors' movements being controlled and damage thus kept to a minimum.

- 100 - II. The different categories of protected areas

Protected areas could be divided into four categories, called A, B, C and D, the first two being strictly protected areas, the other two being less strictly protected.

It would be wrong to suppose that each of these categories is a self-contained unit; there is sure to be some overlapping among the factors mentioned earlier.

The categories might be described as follows:

Category A

For this category, the only factor admissible is that of scientific value. The category would comprise areas under complete protection where all human activities are prohibited. Access is allowed only in the case of scientific research workers and requires a special permit.

The sole concern is therefore the fundamental one of the protection and natural development of the various biotopes, scientific research being permitted on clearly-defined conditions.

Category B

Scientific value is again important with this category. The conservation of the natural heritage (flora, fauna, subsoil, water etc.) is compulsory in such areas, and any artificial intervention which might modify their natural appearance, composition and evolution is pro- hibited. However, some amenity provision is permissible in clearly-defined zones subject to Strict rules. Various traditional human activities may be tolerated provided they are com- patible with conservation aims. No non-traditional human activity is permissible. Visitors may be allowed to enter on condition that they comply with strict rules.

Category C

Areas would be assigned to this category mainly on account of their cultural and aesthetic value, protection of the landscape and the ecological balance being taken into consideration. However, these areas may also be of subsidiary recreational value.

Traditional human activities are allowed, subject to certain rules; some non-tradi- tional human activities are tolerated but strictly controlled.

As this category is often of relevance to human recreation, some recreational pro- vision as well as non-motorised public movement are permitted in clearly-defined zones on condition that they are in accordance with the area's aims.

Category D

The areas in this category are usually large tracts of land which are primarily in- tended for recreation but where the principles of nature conservation are observed. They may include natural monuments, private estates, villages etc. Such areas are therefore pri- marily of recreational value (rest and relaxation) and also of cultural, aesthetic and natural value.

Planning an area for recreational purposes will entail some amenity provision (for cul- tural, sporting and recreational pursuits). Traditional and/or new human activities are nor- mally permitted on condition that they are compatible with the area's aims. Non-motorised public access is generally unrestricted but may be controlled in certain zones of particular interest (natural monuments, flora, fauna etc.). Motorised traffic is controlled in accordance with the aims of protection.

- 101 - APPENDIX ANNEXE COMPARATIVE TABLE TABLEAU COMPARATIF Nomenclature at present used or foreseen in the various states Les nomenclatures actuellement en vigueur ou préconisées dans différents Etats

Country/ Category A/ Category B/ Category C/ Category D/ Pays Catégorie A Catégorie B Catégorie C Catégorie D

Austria/ - Vollnaturschutzgebiet - Naturdenkmal - Landschaftschuzgebiet - Naturpark Autriche integral nature reserve natural monument protected landscape nature park réserve naturelle intégrale monument naturel paysage protégé parc naturel - Teilnaturschutzgebiet - Nationalpark partial nature reserve national park réserve naturelle partielle pare national

Belgium/Belglque - réserve naturelle intégrale - réserve naturelle dirigée - site naturel - parc natural (national ou régional) integraal natuurreservaat gericht natuurreservaat natuurlandschap natuurpark (nationaal of regionaal) integral nature reserve directed nature reserve natural site nature park (national or regional) - réserve forestière bosreservaat forest nature Cyprus/ Chypre - ~~~~~~~~~~ - ~~~~~~~~~~ réservnaturee naturellreservee national forest park parc national forestier Czechoslovakia/ - národni park Tchécoslovaquie national park parc national - národní prírodhí reservace national nature reserve réserve naturelle nationale Denmark/ - vildtreservat - víldtreservat - beskyttede omräder - beskyttede omráder Danemark game reserve game reserve protected areas protected areas réserve de gibier réserve de gibier zones protégées zones protégées - beskyttede omráder - beskyttede omräder protected areas protected areas zones protégées zones protégées - 102 - Finland/ - luennonpuisto kansallispuisto - luonnonheit metsä Finlande national park national park state forest development area parc national parc national zone forestière d'aménagement de l'Etat - luonnonsuojelualue - aarnialue private nature reserve state wilderness area réserve naturelle privée zone sauvage de l'Etat

France/ - réserve intégrale dans le cadre du - réserve naturelle monument naturel et site - parc naturel régional France parc national nature reserve natural monument and site regional nature park integral reserve of the national park - parc national proprement dit - zone périphérique du parc national national park as a whole buffer zone of the national park Federal - Naturschutzgebiet - Naturschutzgebiet - Landschaftsachutzgebiet - Naturpark Republic of nature reserve nature reserve protected landscape nature park Germany/ réserve naturelle réserve naturelle paysage protégé parc naturel République Fédérale - Nationalpark (Kernzone) - National park (Kernzone) - Naturschutzgebiet - Landschaftsschutzgebiet d'Allemagne national park (interior zone) national park (interior zone) nature reserve protected landscape parc national (zone intérieure) parc national (zone intérieure) réserve naturelle paysage protégé - Naturdenkmal - Naturdenkmal natural monument natural monument monument naturel monument naturel - Naturpark nature park parc naturel Nationalpark (Randzone) national park (buffer zone) parc national (zone extérieure) Iceland/ - fridland - fridland - thjódgardur - fólkvargur Islande nature reserve nature reserve national park regional nature park (recreation zone) réserve naturelle réserve naturelle parc national parc naturel régional (zone de récréation) - náttúruvaetti natural monument monument natural