E X P L O R E Different ways of protecting landscapes Natural areas are those that have been modified ver y little by human activity. Agencies have been established to conser ve these areas or to enable them to recover if they are severely degraded . Dif ferent types of agencies protect the environment and biodiversity. They can be local , national or international . Are all natural areas protected? Only the natural areas on Earth that possess specific qualities and values are protected by these agencies. The requirements for an area to be considered in need of special protection have changed over time. In the 19th centur y, awareness of the need to protect natural areas began to grow. At first, only the beauty of the landscape was taken into account. In 1872, the United States Congress approved the creation of Yellowstone National Park, the first one in the world . (14) Recently, other criteria have been added to protect natural areas: biodiversity ; the presence of habitats or endangered species; their scientific, educational and cultural interest; whether they are representative of a natural system ; or whether they benefit the environment. 14. Yellowstone National Park (United States). It is an area of great biodiversity and contains a series of remarkable geysers and hot springs. 15. Lagoa do Fogo in the Azores (Portugal ) is a Site of Community Importance (SCI). The SCIs form part of the Natura network. 18
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