Regional Act No. 11 on regional parks and nature reserves

It is hereby laid down at regional level the legislative framework relating to regional parks, nature reserves and ecological re-balance areas. The Regional Act regulates the procedures to be followed to set up those protected areas. As regards the setting up of regional parks, the aims particularly pursued shall be, among others: (a) the protection and restoration of ecosystems; (b) the preservation of flora, biotopes and habitats; (c) the performance of study and scientific research programmes. Agreements with other Regions regarding the creation of interregional parks are encouraged. Article 4 defines the content of the Regional Territorial Plan, whilst articles 6-12 describe the content of the territorial plan to be adopted for each park. Article 21 is concerned with nature reserves, which are classified into the following four categories: (1) total nature reserves; (2) oriented nature reserves; (3) partial nature reserves (geological, botanic and zoological); and (4) special nature reserves. Article 32 establishes penalties. Article 33 provides for the setting up of the Regional Advisory Committee for the Environment.