Protected areas: nature conservation areas

Prior to the entry into force of the Environmental Code, the County Administrative Board or the municipality was able to dispose of nature conservation areas under the Nature Conservation Act. The form of protection was weaker than the nature reserve and was not allowed to hinder ongoing land use, such as forestry. Most nature conservation areas were set up to protect the landscape, especially in coastal areas, or to maintain the management of mowing meadows and pastures. Some municipalities have used the form of protection to protect popular outdoor areas. Since the entry into force of the Environmental Code, the possibility of creating new nature conservation areas has ceased. But already formed nature conservation areas are still in existence and according to the Environmental Code are now to be considered as nature reserves.

在《环境法典（Environmental Code）》生效前，县行政委员会（County Administrative Board）或市镇（municipality）可对依据《自然保护法（Nature Conservation Act）》设立的自然保护区域（nature conservation areas）行使处置权限。该类保护形式的保护等级低于自然保护区（nature reserve），且不得妨碍正在进行的土地利用活动，例如林业生产。多数自然保护区域的设立目的为保护景观，尤其针对沿海区域，或是维持割草草原与牧场的管护状态。部分市镇还采用该保护形式，以保护热门户外休闲区域。自《环境法典》生效以来，新增自然保护区域的权限已不复存在。但已设立的自然保护区域仍持续存续，且依据《环境法典》的规定，此类区域现均被认定为自然保护区。