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Art.13 |
ARTICLE 13 |
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Art.13.1 |
(1) The Contracting Parties shall as appropriate establish, in areas under their jurisdiction, terrestrial, freshwater, coastal or marine protected areas for the purpose of safeguarding |
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Art.13.1.a |
(a) the ecological and biological processes essential to the functioning of the ecosystems of the Region; |
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Art.13.1.b |
(b) representative samples of all types of ecosystems of the Region; |
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Art.13.1.c |
(c) satisfactory population levels for the largest possible number of species of fauna and flora belonging to those ecosystems; . |
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Art.13.1.d |
(d) areas of particular importance because of their scientific, educational, aesthetic, or cultural interests; and taking into account their importance in particular as: |
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Art.13.1.d.a |
(a) the natural habitat of species of fauna and flora; particularly rare or endangered or endemic species; |
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Art.13.1.d.b |
(b) zones necessary for the maintenance of exploitable stocks of economically important species; (c) pools of genetic material and said refuge for species, especially endangered ones; |
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Art.13.1.d |
(d) sites of ecological, aesthetic or cultural interest; |
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Art.13.1.e |
(e) reference sources for scientific research; |
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Art.13.1.f |
(f) areas for environmental education. |
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Art.13.1.gx |
They shall, in particular, take all measures possible in their power to preserve those areas which are of an exceptional character and are peculiar to their country or the Region as well as those which constitute the critical habitats of endangered or rare species, of species that are endemic to a small area and of species that migrate between countries of Contracting Parties. |
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Art.13.2 |
(2) Protected areas established pursuant to this Agreement shall be regulated and managed in such a way as to further the objectives for the purpose of which they have been created. Contracting Parties shall, wherever possible, prohibit within such protected areas activities which are inconsistent with such objectives. |
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Art.13.3 |
(3) Protected areas shall include |
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Art.13.3.a |
(a) National Parks |
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Art.13.3.a.i |
(i) This expression denotes natural areas that are sufficiently large to allow for ecological self-regulation of one or several ecosystems, and which have not been substantially altered by human occupation or exploitation. |
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Art.13.3.a.ii |
(ii) National Parks shall be placed under public control, their boundaries shall not be altered nor shall any portion of any National Park be alienated except by the highest competent authority. |
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Art.13.3.a.iii |
(iii) National Parks shall be dedicated to conservation and to scientific, educational and recreational uses and the common welfare of the people. |
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Art.13.3.b |
(b) Reserves |
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Art.13.3.b.i |
(i) This expression denotes areas set aside for the purpose of preserving a specific ecosystem, the critical habitat of certain species of fauna or flora, a water catchment area or for any other specific purpose relating to the conservation of natural resources or objects or areas of scientific, aesthetic, cultural, educational or recreational interest. |
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Art.13.3.b.ii |
(ii) After reserves have been established their boundaries shall not be altered nor shall any portion of such reserves be alienated except by the authority establishing them or by higher authority. |
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Art.13.3.3.b.iii |
(iii) Reserves shall be dedicated to the purposes for which they have been created and, in the light of the national interests of the Contracting Parties any activity inconsistent with such purposes shall be prohibited. |
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Art.13.4 |
(4) Contracting Parties shall, in respect of any protected area established pursuant to this Agreement |
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Art.13.4.a |
(a) prepare a management plan and manage the area on the basis of this plan; |
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Art.13.4.b |
(b) establish, wherever appropriate, terrestrial or aquatic buffer zones that shall be located around protected areas and which, in the case of marine areas, may include coastal land areas or watersheds of rivers flowing into the protected area; in such buffer zones all activities that may have harmful consequences on the ecosystems that such areas purport to protect shall be prohibited or regulated and activities which are consistent with the purpose of the protected area shall be promoted. |
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Art.13.5 |
(5) Contracting Parties shall, in respect of any protected area established pursuant to this Agreement, endeavour to |
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Art.13.5.a |
(a) prohibit the introduction of exotic animal or plant species; |
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Art.13.5.b |
(b) prohibit the use or release of toxic substances or pollutants which could cause disturbance or damage to protected ecosystems or to the species they contain; |
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Art.13.5.c |
(c) to the maximum extent possible, prohibit or control any activity exercised outside protected areas when such an activity is likely to cause disturbance or damage to the ecosystems or species that such protected areas purport to protect. |
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Art.13.6 |
(6) Contracting Parties shall co-operate in the development of principles, objectives, criteria and guidelines for the selection establishment and management of protected areas in the Region with a view to establishing a co-ordinated network of protected areas throughout the Region, giving particular attention to those of regional importance. An Appendix containing such principles, objectives, criteria and guidelines shall be drawn up in the light of the best scientific evidence as adapted to the conservation requirements of the Region and shall be adopted by a meeting of Contracting Parties. |
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Art.13.7 |
(7) in addition to the establishment of the protected areas referred to in paragraph 3 of this Article, Contracting Parties shall promote, through the adoption of appropriate measures the conservation of natural areas by private owners, community or local authorities. |
