How North Dakota Parks Nature Areas and Preserves are Protected
North Dakota Parks nature attractions are aplenty , but they would not have survived if not for the conscientious efforts of the state government.
Definition for Natural Area
North Dakota is inarguably one of the wealthiest states in terms of natural areas. In case you’re wondering, a natural area is defined as any area – may it be a body of land or water – that possesses unique and natural features, and regardless of whether they are privately or publicly owned.
Natural areas must be registered with the state’s Natural Areas Registry Program to receive aid in terms of protection and conservation among other things. The government duly notifies respective landowners about the unique features that their lands possess. Those who have successfully enrolled in the program will also be duly recognized and stand to receive management advice from the department. Landowners, however, are not bound to offer public access to their areas.
At present, there are about fifty sites that had successfully enrolled in the stated program.
Natural Heritage Inventory
The inventory is one of the programs that have been successfully launched by the Registry. Its primary aim is to accurately determine all natural features of the state and take the necessary courses of action to provide these areas with sufficient protection. Established in 1981, the inventory has so far accumulated and catalogued more than 5,000 critical records regarding the state’s species and their respective habitats.
The data that the inventory had been able to painstakingly gather is then used to determine which other locations which may qualify as a natural area or even a nature preserve. The main difference between nature preserves and natural areas is that the former have regulations in place that effectively protect its essential natural features.
Nature Preserves Act
NDCC 55-11 or Nature Preserves Act was successfully passed by state legislation in 1975. The act authorizes the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department to set aside properties that have qualified as either a natural area or nature preserve for the benefit of state citizens.
NDCC 55-11 currently provides protection for five nature preserves. These properties are either owned by state agencies or private organizations like The Nature Conservancy.
The Cross Ranch State Nature Preserve, for instance, located twenty miles north of the city of Mandan, is managed by the Nature Conservancy. Gunlogson State Nature Preserve, Head of Mountain State Nature Preserve, and the Sentinel Buttle State Nature Preserve are, on the other hand, all managed by the ND Parks and Recreation Department.
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