TOP 10 NEW NATURE RESERVES

Canada

The 43rd national park in Canada, opened in July 2013, is located on an island that is 290 kilometers to the southeast of Halifax. The home to just 6 permanent residents who look after the meteorology station sustains over 500 Sable Island Horses that freely roam around. The shores of the island also welcome more than 50,000 gray seals. The Sable Island is also known for ship wrecks during the colonial period. The 42-kilometer strip is referred to as the “Graveyard of the Atlantic.”

Zambia

While most of the parks in Africa are located far away from cities, the new Lusaka National Park lies 30 kilometers to the southeast of Zambia’s capital. Opened in May 2015, the national park consists of a tourist center and game-viewing platforms. The park is Chalimbana river system’s key water catchment area. It is also home to as many as 22 different wild animal species, including impala, nyala, zebra, giraffe, kudu and white rhino.

Afghanistan

Until 2009, there was no protected land in Afghanistan. The creation of the Band-e Amir National Park in Bamyan Province by international conservation groups set the ball rolling. The Wakham National Park, the second one in Afaghanistan and much larger than the first one, was opened in April 2014. Wakham with its alpine grasslands and rugged hills is located in the northeastern corner, the meeting point of the Pamir Mountains and Hindu Kush.

Chile

The Patagonia Park in southern Chile’s Aysen region was opened recently to the public. The overgrazed ranchland located in the Chacabuco Valley which is ecologically very precious is likely to be the largest new national park established in the 21st century. The park boasts of reinvigorated puma, condor and endangered huemul deer populations. The grand opening of the park is scheduled for early 2016.

USA

This is the world’s largest marine reserve. Created in September 2014, it protects patches of the Pacific Ocean surrounding the islands and atolls controlled by the US. The protected area supposedly holds several undersea mountains and thriving deep water coral colonies, which form the habitat for turtles, tunas, manta rays, sharks, seabirds and cetaceans.

British Overseas Territories

In March this year, the British created the largest continuous marine park, surrounding the Pitcairn Islands, an overseas territory of the British. The goal of this marine reserve is protecting the ocean wealth from illegal fishing activities and safeguarding endemic species such as the butterfly fish and squirrelfish, among many others.

Australia

About 2 million hectare of land in the Kimberley region in Western Australia abandoned by two big mining companies will soon be converted into a national park. The reserve will include the existing Prince Regent, Lawley River and Mitchell River national parks so as to become Australia’s biggest national park.

Argentina

Supported by crowd funding, the untouched estancia of a murdered rancher was converted into a new national park. El Impenetrable Forest, a swampy jungle in the northern part of Argentina is rich in biodiversity. It was declared a national park in October 2014 and it provides protection to such endangered species as crowned solitary eagles, jaguars and giant armadillos. However, the National Parks Administration of Argentina has not yet exerted its control over the park.

USA

Created in January 2013, the newest national park of America preserves a mountainous region in central California known for its rock formations that are heavily eroded because of fire, ice and volcanic activity for 23 million years. The enthralling wildflowers in this area are pollinated by as many as 400 different species of bees. You also get to see the California condor or watch 13 different species of bats within caves along the 32 miles of exploration trails available for visitors.

Germany

Opened in March 2015, the newest national park in Europe is located just 90 minutes drive away to the southwest from Frankfurt Airport and 60 minutes to the east from Luxembourg Airport. The national park is nestled between Mosel vineyards in the north and the Rhine in the east. The reserve provides protection to thriving moorland, ancient beech trees, and rolling arnica as well as nardus grasslands. Additionally, it is a habitat for black storks and some of Europe’s largest wild forest cat populations.

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