Humanity is composed of elements that interact with each other, allowing the growth of society and that of different cultural, environmental, political conditions, among others. In this case, the relevance of the natural environment within the countries of the world is highlighted, where measures have been taken to protect natural environments, in order to conserve species and their ecosystems. In the following article we will learn about the examples of natural heritage in the world. 
Natural heritage
Natural heritage can be described as a set of natural assets that are located within a specific region, providing a biodiversity of symbolic flora and fauna throughout the country. This type of heritage encompasses the environmental conditions it possesses, the aesthetic influence of the territory and the scientific characteristics of the species present; therefore, different criteria are attributed when assigning a natural heritage, highlighting the landscapes, natural resources and the present geological structure.
The constructions of natural heritage originated in a physical and biological way, being carried out by continuous exposure over time by nature, acquiring a unique and exceptional aesthetic, biological and geological condition. In certain regions, they are geological formations that are delimited for the conservation of the flora and fauna that compose it, since they usually present dangers of extinction and for this reason, their conservation is motivated.
The environmental sectors considered as natural heritage, are environmental regions that are protected in various countries, granting them different categories of protection, in this case the natural stands out due to being a pioneering term that is responsible for granting protection measures that allow having the heritage conservation for public enjoyment and tourism purposes, all this allows carrying out environmental education activities for all ages.
Currently there are a large number of measures for the protection of natural environments considered estates of the nation, becoming an important area to maintain the balance within said environment, with more than 100.000 spaces that are protected worldwide. Each of these sectors considered as natural heritage belong to a specific region, after evaluating their natural conditions and the endemic species present, they are classified as follows:
- Natural Sanctuaries
Corresponds to those ecological reserves that are composed of wildlife, diverse fauna and variable flora; They have very relevant characteristics and are protected by man. Its purpose is to conserve species for research and education purposes; worldwide they are known as natural reserves, for example, Malleco National Reserve (Chile) or Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve (Costa Rica).
- National Parks or Conservation Areas
It consists of those natural spaces that have a high cultural and environmental value, in addition to not having any or little alteration by man. They are made up of natural elements of great value, such as unique flora, endemic fauna and unique geomorphological formations; These areas are delimited and protected by the governments of each region, they also come to present a source of tourism for the nation.
- Natural monuments
Natural monuments are considered to be all those geological formations that have arisen naturally and due to the various tectonic movements of the planet, therefore, their origin is completely biological, among them we can highlight caves, islands, ancient trees, forests, among others. . They are characterized by presenting a rare beauty, very notorious geological formations and of high historical value.
The protection of these monuments must be with special methods, since they are susceptible environments and require superior protection. Spain stands out for presenting numerous natural monuments, which is why there are several ecological reserves focused on their conservation, such as the thousand-year-old Dragon Tree of Icos de los Vinos, Semuc Champey or Mount Santiago.
Natural Heritage in Spain
In this case we will focus on knowing the main estates of Spain, it should be noted that it is a country located on the European continent, specifically in the western region and has contact with the Pacific Ocean, highlighting a great geographical importance that favors it in biodiversity of ecosystems and natural environments, therefore it has protected spaces by the country as a natural heritage.
The number of protected regions in Spain has increased considerably in recent years, attributed to the variety of natural environments that make it up and to the autonomous communities of the region. In particular, the European Union has created a Natura 2000 Network, whose main objective is to classify all the policies and criteria for the protection of natural spaces and bring it to an accessible scale for the public without exposing any damage to the environment. The division assigned by this entity grants two main categories:
- Zepa (Special Protection Area for Birds)
They are Zones dedicated exclusively to the protection of local birds. It is considered a protected area by the different regions that make up the European Union, in charge of keeping the bird species that are in danger of extinction as safe as possible. Allowing to have a region highly protected from homogeneous management that manages to conserve its natural habitats, which allow its vital reproduction.
- LIC
They refer specifically to the conservation of places of greatest community importance. They are focused on the protection of European natural areas, arising from the need to conserve the biodiversity of plant and animal species. Creating a network of spaces made up of diverse ecosystems that maintain the vegetal layer of the continent and the conservation of the diverse species.
The Spanish network of Natural Spaces, consists of a network of national parks located in Spain, considered one of the largest preserves in the entire European continent, through this network it is responsible for offering protection to the different ecosystems, natural landscapes and care for the species that are part of the natural heritage in Spain. For this reason, it stands out as an example of conservation of the natural environment of a country.
The natural heritage of Spain extends throughout the Pyrenees region located in the north of the peninsula, the Canary Islands and the Menorca Islands, and also includes the Garajonay National Park or commonly known as the Doñana National Park in Andalusia. Being sectors well known for their natural wealth and for their diversity of natural environments that make up the country.
Examples of Natural Heritage
The different levels of protection of natural environments in Spain have been categorized as World Heritage since 1972 by UNESCO, reaching the point of protecting an area considered to be of great value to the nation, presenting a biosphere reserve, Zepa and LIC. Each of these categories is responsible for being able to protect and conserve the natural environments and the present biodiversity, which is why the main examples of natural heritage in Spain are highlighted:
Garajonay National Park
The Garajonay National Park is located in the center of Isla Gomera and the Canary Islands, it was declared a natural heritage in mid-1981 and then in 1986 it was declared by UNESCO and included as part of the heritage of humanity. . It consists of an area that reaches 3984 hectares, it is normally covered by humid fog, composed of various rocks and basaltic materials.
The main attraction of this natural heritage are the Laurisilva forests, consisting of a type of subtropical cloud forest, presenting a great variety of plant species. It consists of a region with numerous geological monuments due to its geographical location that facilitates it. In addition to having species of animals unique to their region, becoming endemic and characteristic of the island. Currently, it is considered the best example of the old world due to its humid and cloudy environment, preserving its original conditions.
It is considered a world heritage that was recognized in 1986 as a natural environment with unique and different elements, as well as being the first Spanish natural park to be included in this classification.
Teide National Park
It is considered the largest and oldest national park located in the Canary Islands and also the oldest in Spain. Well known for its scenic beauty and its great biological wealth, they are home to a high percentage of biodiversity of plant species and most are endemic to the region, in addition to having a significant number of invertebrate animal species.
The geographical position of the park gives it one of its main attractions, which is known as the Teide volcano, located at the highest point on the island of Tenerife and in all of Spain, and is also considered the third largest volcano in all of Spain. the world with approximately 3718 meters. Another of its main characteristics is that it is the highest point on earth, emerging from the Atlantic Ocean.
It is considered one of the national parks that are part of the world heritage specifically in the natural category section since 2007.
Doñana national park
It corresponds to a national park that is located in the Gulf of Cádiz located specifically in the Atlantic Ocean, specifically in the provinces of Seville and Huelva, coming to be considered as the largest ecological reserve in the entire European continent. Being essential to achieve the conservation of the most threatened felines worldwide, such as the Iberian lynx, as well as endangered bird species such as the imperial eagle, in mid-1994 it is considered a world heritage site.
The Pyrenees- Monte Perdido
It is an area that is located in the Autonomous Community of Aragon, within itsstructure, the massif known as Monte Perdido stands out, made up of four valleys of significant beauty known as Ordesa to the southwest, Añisclo to the south, Ecuaín to the southeast and Pineta to the east. This massif stands out for presenting glaciers that remain in force. Because of this they are part of the mixed world heritage of the year 1997.
EThis sector is made up of two National Parks known as the Pyrenees and the Ordesa de Monte Perdido, the first belongs to the French region encompassing areas such as Gavarnie, Estaubé, Tromouse and Barroude. The second is the Spanish National Park of Ordesa and Monte Perdido, located in the Sobrarde de Aragón region and covering some of the adjacent areas and pastoral areas. The landscapes ofBoth are characterized by being a region with a high slope and by having a colonial attitude, this is attributed to the nearby urban areas that have colonial architecture and pastoral life.
Ibiza
It's aa Spanish island that is located in contact with the Mediterranean Sea, located in areas such as Mallorca, Menorca and Fomentera; being its extension between 572 square kilometers. This environment becomes composed of marine and coastal ecosystems that allow great interaction of biodiversity and culture, therefore since 1999 it is considered a World Heritage Site.
The island has a lot of international popularity, mainly for its beautiful coves and beaches that provide crystal clear waters that are highly visited by tourists. Hotel networks have been built around it that hold parties and nightclubs that attract many people, therefore, it is very active for night life. With all this, the Spanish government maintains strict control over the conservation of the area and control over tourists who are in the area..
We hope this article has been helpful, we leave you others that will surely interest you: