Regulating use protected areas

Within these areas, most activities are prohibited or restricted to ensure the long-lasting con-servation of the ecosystems concerned. The continued existence of protected areas cannot be fully guaranteed by law since subsequent legislation may abolish a park or reserve. The dis-establishment of a protected area may, however, be made more difficult than its establishment by the imposition of particular procedural constraints.

The integrity of a protected area may be achieved through public ownership or regulatory measures. There are two ways of protected area management: centralized and decentralized manage-ment. Decentralized management is more usual where protected areas are established on pri-vate or municipally owned land. Management boards aim to represent all interests concerned and are composed of government officials and representatives of local authorities, scientific institutions, conservation NGOs, landowners and local economic interests.

Legislation must make it possible to establish different zones within protected areas and to lay down basic rules and activity limitations applicable to each zone.