The article talks about what a national park is. Why are they created, how are they different from nature reserves and what are nature reserves.
Nature
Life on our planet exists, according to scientists, more than 3 billion years. During this time, many biological species were replaced on it - some disappeared, others evolved, and still others were completely destroyed by man. The same thing is with plant life: it has undergone many changes and there are such species that need protection to protect against complete extinction.
Since the time of the industrial revolution and mass industrialization, the amount of wild and untouched nature is gradually decreasing. The reason for this was deforestation, mining, hunting, etc. Gradually, at least in the European part of our continent, the number of cities increased. This is happening at such a fast and massive pace that, starting from about the middle of the XIX century, in many countries it was decided to create green areas and national parks in the city. So what is a national park, what are its tasks and how does it differ from a nature reserve? This we will understand.
Definition
First, let's deal with terminology. According to the official definition, a national park is a special natural area in which, in order to preserve it, partially or fully economic activity, hunting or other anthropogenic interference is prohibited. But at the same time, visits to national parks are allowed by tourists or just nature lovers. Naturally, provided that the established rules are not violated. For example, you can’t leave trash, harm vegetation, animals, make fires, etc. So now we know what a national park is. But why, in addition to eco-tourism, are such protected natural areas created?
Meaning
National parks are not just for regulated tourism or visiting. Usually, such a status is given to those natural areas in which there are objects of scientific, cultural or aesthetic significance. They often carry out various research works, excursions for students of educational institutions and more. Also, sometimes such parks have historical value. For example, these are relict forests with unique vegetation or places where once important processes took place for a particular region or all of humanity. So we figured out what a national park is.
But nevertheless, they are most popular among the common population precisely as places where you can join the nature, go in for light tourism and have a good time. And an important role in this is played by the absence of garbage, which is full in any forests close to people.
Also, national parks are an effective measure of the preservation of some important or special areas of nature from deforestation, human settlement and their disturbance of the natural balance in the animal world. But when the task is to preserve the area of nature and its inhabitants in its original form or to restore their population, nature reserves come to the rescue. What is this and how are nature reserves different from parks? This we will understand.
What is a national park and reserve?
We considered the definition of a national park; now it’s the turn of the reserve. So what are their differences?
Reserves are forests, water areas and other natural areas in which, in order to preserve the flora of the fauna or to restore their population, all human activities, including visiting, are completely prohibited. True, visitors are still allowed into some nature reserves, but only as part of excursions that are accompanied by experienced huntsmen who keep order.
Simply put, the purpose of the reserve is to preserve a certain natural area and prevent human interference. Of course, hunting, logging and other destructive activities in them are completely prohibited, and scientists are monitoring the natural balance. The reserves also carry out various research work.
So we examined the definition of the reserve, and what is the national park of Russia - we will consider further. The first of them were formed back in Soviet times, and now there are specially protected ecologically clean territories in almost every region of our country. The most famous of them are Pleshcheyevo Lake, Elk Island, Curonian Spit.
Conclusion
The organization and preservation of national parks and reserves is an important task, since the anthropogenic factor has a strong impact on the animal and plant world today. So, only over the past century, dozens of biological species have been destroyed. And a serious role was played by poachers who penetrate the territory of reserves and are engaged in the shooting of rare or endangered species of animals whose skins, horns, hooves and meat are then resold at fabulous prices.
So now we know what a national park is. Examples of their existence can be found on all continents, and in Russia there are 47 of them. All of them are valuable in their own way, located in different regions and this is especially interesting for scientists and tourists.