El Estado Federal y la preservación y manejo de áreas de singular importancia ambiental

Abstract

As regards to environmental matters, section 14 of the National Constitution states that “the authorities will provide (…), to the rational use of natural resources, the preservation of the natural and cultural heritage, and biological diversity, and to
environmental education and information”. The creation, management, protection and gradual expansion of the Sistema Federal de Áreas Naturales Protegidas” (Natural Protected Areas Federal System) represents a concrete answer, from federal authorities
to the constitutional order in question.
The environmental management categories that make up the Sistema Federal de Áreas Naturales Protegidas are: Parque Nacional (National Park), Monumento Natural (Natural Monument), Reserva Nacional (National Reserve) and Red de Reservas
Naturales (the Network of Nature Reserves) –Reserva Natural Estricta (Strict Nature Reserve), Reserva Natural Silvestre (Wild Nature Reserve) and Reserva Natural Educativa (Educational Nature Reserve)–.
Two new environmental management categories have recently been added to the system: Reserva Natural Militar (Military Nature Reserve) and Parque Interjurisdiccional Marino-Costero (Inter-jurisdictional Coastal Marine Park).
The main administrative-legal aspects that characterize each of the environmental management categories, that make up the Sistema Federal de Áreas Naturales Protegidas, are analyzed in the present study.