Nature reserve

A nature reserve (natural reserve, bioreserve, (natural/nature) preserve or (national/nature) conserve) is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research. Nature reserves may be designated by government institutions in some countries, or by private landowners, such as charities and research institutions, regardless of nationality. Nature reserves fall into different IUCN categories depending on the level of protection afforded by local laws.

History

Cultural practices that roughly equate to the establishment and maintenance of reserved areas for animals date back to antiquity, with King Devanampiya Tissa of Sri Lanka establishing one of the world's earliest wildlife sanctuaries in the 3rd century BC. Early reservations often had a religious underpinning, such as the 'evil forest' areas of West Africa which were forbidden to humans, who were threatened with spiritual attack if they went there. Sacred areas taboo from human entry to fishing and hunting are known by many ancient cultures worldwide.

Nature

Nature, in the broadest sense, is the natural, physical, or material world or universe. "Nature" can refer to the phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general. The study of nature is a large part of science. Although humans are part of nature, human activity is often understood as a separate category from other natural phenomena.

The word nature is derived from the Latin word natura, or "essential qualities, innate disposition", and in ancient times, literally meant "birth".Natura is a Latin translation of the Greek word physis (φύσις), which originally related to the intrinsic characteristics that plants, animals, and other features of the world develop of their own accord. The concept of nature as a whole, the physical universe, is one of several expansions of the original notion; it began with certain core applications of the word φύσις by pre-Socratic philosophers, and has steadily gained currency ever since. This usage continued during the advent of modern scientific method in the last several centuries.

National nature reserve

Nature reserves deemed to be of national importance, or controlled by a national-level body may be known as national nature reserves.

China

Zhalong Nature Reserve in Heilongjiang province is designated as a national nature reserve by the Chinese government.

Czech Republic

Soos National Nature Reserve was designated as a nature reserve by the government of the Czech Republic.

Falkland Islands

Beauchêne Island was designated as a national nature reserve by the government of the Falkland Islands in 1964.

France

Néouvielle National Nature Reserve

Isle of Man

Point of Ayre is designated as a national nature reserve by the Manx government.

Russia

The North-Ossetian National Nature Reserve in the Caucasus Mountains is designated as a national nature reserve by the Russian government.

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, "national nature reserves" are those designed by one of the national conservancy bodies, Natural England, Natural Resources Wales, Scottish Natural Heritage, or the Northern Ireland Environment Agency. In total, there are 411 national nature reserves in the UK.

Reserve

Reserve or reserves may refer to:

Economics

Places

The Highland

The Highland is a historic multiunit residence at 66 Highland Avenue in Somerville, Massachusetts. The three story brick building was built in 1892 to a design by architect Samuel D. Kelley. It is one of the city's more elegant late 19th-century apartment houses, built during its rapid expansion in the late 19th century. The building listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

Description and history

The Highland is set on the south side of Highland Avenue on Central Hill, directly opposite the city's high school. It is a three story brick building, Richardsonian Romanesque in style, with brownstone trim, and a conical roof on its corner turret. Brownstone beltcourses, varying in thickness, separate the basement, first, and second floors, and also separate the top of the third floor from the cornice, which has a band of dentil brickwork below the modillioned roof line. The main facade is six bays wide, divided into two similar sections having a rounded bay at the right. The main entrance is set in the third bay from the right beneath a large round brownstone arch.