Ministerial Decree No. 555 validating the Regulation on visiting of protected areas by natural persons.

This Ministerial Decree establishes the procedure for visiting of protected areas by natural persons for scientific research, educational, recreational, limited economic activities’ purposes and tourism. It shall be applicable to the following types of protected natural areas of national and local significance: (a) environmental protection institutions - state nature reserves, national parks, state natural parks, state natural reserves, state regional natural parks; (b) nature protection organizations established in the form of state enterprises - state zoological parks, state botanical gardens, state dendrological parks (environmental protection enterprises); and (c) protected natural areas without status of legal persons - state natural monuments, state natural reserves, state natural wildlife sanctuaries and state protected areas. Natural persons visiting protected areas shall be authorized to: (a) travelling on motorized and horse-drawn vehicles public roads and special sightseeing (tourist) routes, except for areas covered by special protection regime; (b) organized excursions and hiking tours; (c) navigation in waterbodies exclusively on non-motorized floating vessels; (d) artisanal (sport) fishing; (e) artisanal harvesting of wild fruits, berries, mushrooms, medicinal herbs, haymaking, wood harvesting and other traditional environmental management in specially designated areas, except for areas covered by special protection regime; (f) organization of sports and environmental education events; (g) professional and amateur photo and video footage; (h) training practices; (i) collection of herbarium, soil sampling for educational purposes, except for areas covered by special protection regime; and (k) other activities envisaged by license issued to protected area.