Protected natural areas of our homeland
Special protected areas are set up to keep unique natural objects, protect plants and animals and use natural resources wisely. In a strict reserve economic activity is banned: nature is left as it is and studied only for science. A national park protects nature but allows recreation, excursions and some economic uses in part of the territory; in Uzbekistan the Zomin and Ugam-Chatkal national nature parks are well known. A biosphere reserve keeps biodiversity and allows some activity (for example tourism); the Lower Amu Darya biosphere reserve is one. A sanctuary (zakaznik) protects certain species or objects and permits economic activity that does not harm nature much elsewhere. The Red Book is a list of plant and animal species threatened with extinction and the measures to protect them; Uzbekistan’s Red Book has two volumes, “Plants” and “Animals”. It includes, for example, the snow leopard, the Bukhara deer and the markhor.
Complete a table: draw four columns (reserve, national park, biosphere reserve, sanctuary) and fill rows “economic activity”, “main aim”, “example from Uzbekistan”. Then tell the class two sentences about one Red Book species. Safety: in nature do not approach wild animals, hunt them or pick protected plants.