Our planet is rich in diversity of life, with large amount of animals, plants, fungi and microorganisms. Each living being plays a fundamental role in the balance of the planet, and it is therefore necessary to preserve all species.
Conservation units are areas of environmental protection that emerged with the purpose of protecting our biodiversity. The rules for the creation, implementation and management of these units are established by the Law No. 9,985 of 2000.
Conservation units are divided into two large groups: those of full protection and those of sustainable use. At full protection units they are those that cannot be inhabited by man and have their use restricted to tourism and research. There are five types of strict protection conservation units:
- Ecological stations –In this area, the main objective is to preserve nature and ensure research is carried out. In this place, visitation is prohibited, except in the case of educational visits.
- Biological reserves –These are areas aimed at the integral preservation of the resources contained therein and visitation is allowed when the objective is educational. Searches in these locations require authorization from the agency that manages the reserve.
- National Parks – In the parks, in addition to preservation, research, educational activities and ecological tourism are carried out.
- Natural monuments – They aim to preserve rare and beautiful places. The visitation can only be carried out after authorization from the conservation unit management.
- Wildlife Refuges - In these areas, preservation is aimed at ensuring the permanence and reproduction of local fauna and flora communities. Surveys and visitation also require authorization.
Sustainable use conservation units, in turn, are those in which man can establish himself, however, the use of natural resourcesit must happen in a sustainable way. This means that exploration cannot be overdone, worrying about future generations. These units are divided into seven groups:
- Environmental protection areas - Wide area, public or private, with important natural resources. Surveys and visits depend on authorization from the administration.
- Areas of relevant ecological interest -Small area, public or private, that has extremely important natural characteristics, such as the presence of rare species.
- National forests -Area of ownership and public domain with forest cover and native species. Surveys and visits are allowed within the rules established by the conservation unit management.
- Extractive reserves - Area granted to populations that carry out traditional extractive activities. Surveys and visits are allowed within the rules established by the conservation unit management.
- Fauna Reserves –Area of ownership and public domain with native fauna that is used primarily for research. Visits are allowed as long as they do not disturb the conservation unit.
- Sustainable development reserves -Public domain area where there are traditional populations that live off the sustainable exploitation of the site.
- Private Natural Heritage Reserves -Private area whose main objective is to preserve biodiversity.
By Ma. Vanessa dos Santos
