Download or read book 1997 United Nations List of Protected Areas written by IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas and published by . This book was released on 1998 with total page 492 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This new edition reveals a global network of over 30,000 protected areas designated under national legislation which covers 13.2 million square kilometers of land, freshwater, and sea. This definitive list is arranged by country and classified by management aims, ranging from strict protection to protected areas managed for the sustainable use of natural ecosystems. Many protected areas designated by national authorities are also recognized for their international importance under global or regional conventions and programs. Currently, there are some 891 Ramsar wetlands, 114 World Heritage sites, 352 Biosphere Reserves and 1,470 Special Protection Areas, all of which are recorded in the 1997 UN List.