Regional Act No. 38 on protected areas in the Abruzzo Region.

The Abruzzo Region encourages the coordinated protection of the environment and the establishment of protected areas, in accordance with the principles set out in Act No. 394 of 6 December 1991. For the achievement of these purposes, the Region shall: a) set up an integrated system of protected areas; b) promote biodiversity protection; c) ensure the rational and sustainable use of natural resources; d) protect flora, fauna as well as hydrogeological balance. The Act is divided into six Titles. Article 3 regards the integrated system of protected areas, which consists of : a) Regional Nature Parks; b) Regional Nature Reserves; c) Nature Reserves of Provincial Interest. Article 5 establishes the Regional Technical and Scientific Committee for Protected Areas. Title II lays down rules in matter of regional nature parks. They include ground, river and lake areas and may include also maritime areas. Regional nature parks shall include zones A, B, C and D as referred to in article 9, paragraph 2. Regional Park Entities are in charge of park management. Article 14 provides for the elaboration of park planning. Title III concerns Regional Nature Reserves, which are classified under article 19 into: a) total nature reserves for environment conservation; b) guided nature reserves; c) controlled nature reserves; d) special nature reserves. The Entity in charge of reserve management and the Office for Nature Parks and Reserves shall jointly elaborate the plan intended for the naturalistic rearrangement. The plan shall in particular concern the identification of natural emergencies, rearrangement interventions, use of natural resources, installation and services system. In compliance with article 24, the Abruzzo Region shall submit to the competent Ministries proposals in matter of establishment of marine reserves. Title IV regards regional natural monuments which consist of small-scale delimited areas of naturalistic interest. Surveillance functions are entrusted to the Region and to the competent Provinces (art. 29). Article 34 lays down penalties.