ABSTRACT
This chapter presents an overview—a synopsis of the problem—and several examples of private activity, and proposals for the future. It demonstrates that the significance of biotic diversity—the reason why natural areas must be protected. The several types of activity to be examined are: treaties—early proposals and new initiatives such as the World Heritage Convention and Man and the Biosphere programs; national efforts—The Natural Trust and The Nature Conservancy; and international cooperation—Lake Nakuru, Coto Donana, Dominica, and Monteverde. The global protection of natural areas has yet to be generally accepted as an international problem, although some attention has been given to it. The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest and Natural Beauty, registered under the Company’s Act of 12 January 1895, was described recently as “unarguably the world’s greatest conservation society”. The Nature Conservancy and the Trust for Historic Preservation represent the United States to the British National Trust and British Conservancy.
