Geographic foundations of nature protection

Nature protection means measures to preserve nature for society's benefit, safeguard its productivity and use resources sensibly. The main tasks are to prevent pollution and to use water, land, climate, plant, animal and mineral resources without waste. Specially protected areas include national parks, strict nature reserves, biosphere reserves, zakazniks and natural monuments. In a strict reserve any economic activity is forbidden, including hunting, fishing and haymaking, and it serves as a scientific reference sample. A national park is divided into zones (a strict zone, a recreation zone and others), while in a zakaznik some activity that does not strongly affect nature is allowed. A biosphere reserve combines preserving biodiversity with sustainable development of the area; Uzbekistan has the Lower Amu Darya biosphere reserve. The principles are the balance of living and non-living nature, ecological cleanliness, moderate use of resources, completeness of information and the need for diversity.