But is this enough?
Some scientists argue that about 10 % of each country's area should be protected, as a rule. So far, few countries have more than 10 % of their area protected. One of the main problems is that tropical countries, which have the most species to conserve, have the least amount of money available for conservation. International co-operation is therefore essential for the establishment of protected areas, as the social and economic costs of establishing them cannot be met by developing countries.
Protected areas have different names in different countries, which reflect i) the degree of protection and ii) the different functions of the areas. The degree of protection can vary from total protection, where no exploitation of resources is permitted, to merely control of the manner and rate of exploitation of resources. In some countries, it is not possible to have large areas under total protection e.g. in small countries or highly developed countries, where there are no large, totally undisturbed areas remaining. In Britain, for example, no undisturbed native forest remains. Most forest was cut down in the 18th and 19th centuries. So in Britain, national parks are areas of beautiful scenery (usually upland areas) where people still live and farming continues, but certain activities, such as large-scale industrial development are not allowed.
Most countries have several different types of protected area. Some are totally protected and others are where exploitation of natural resources is controlled. The names used to describe protected areas differ in different countries, even where the management objectives are the same.
So the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has devised a standard classification system with ten categories, based on the management of protected areas. Some of the more common categories are listed below:
I. Strict Nature Reserve - to protect undisturbed, representative ecosystems for scientific study, education and maintenance of genetic resources where evolution can continue.
II. National Park - relatively large areas, not altered by human activity, to protect outstanding scenery for scientific and educational use, where tourism is strictly controlled so as not to spoil the scenery or disturb wildlife.
IV. Managed Nature Reserve/Wildlife Sanctuary - to assure the conditions necessary to protect nationally significant species, groups of species, biotic communities or physical features of the environment where these may require specific human manipulation for their perpetration. Controlled harvesting of some products may be permitted.
V. Protected Landscape - to protect areas characteristic of harmonious interactions between Man and the land, while providing opportunities for tourism, without upsetting the balance. These are mixed natural and Man-made landscapes where traditional land uses are maintained.
VIII. Managed Resource Areas - to provide sustained production of water, timber, wildlife, pasture and tourism. Conservation supporting economic activity.
IX. Biosphere Reserve - Internationally designated sites, where natural ecosystems and genetic diversity are fully protected for scientific research and education, where tourism is controlled.
X. World Heritage Site - to protect natural landscape features of international importance, including both ecosystems and Man-made features (e.g. historical buildings) nominated by countries of the Heritage Convention. At least 110 countries have joined the convention.