116 



of aesthetic, historic or scientific value, and areas characterized by 

 primitive conditions in those cases covered by this Convention ; and 



Wishing to conclude a convention on the protection of nature and 

 the preservation of flora and fauna to effectuate the foregoing pur- 

 poses, have agreed upon the following Articles : 



Abtzolb I 



Description of terms used in the wording of this Convention. 



1. The expression NATIONAL PARKS shall denote : 



Areas established for the protection and preservation of superlative 

 scenery, flora and fauna ot national significance which the general 

 public may enjoy and from which it may benefit when placed under 

 public control. 



2. The expression NATIONAL RESERVES shall denote : 

 Regions established for conservation and utilization of natural 



resources under government control, on which protection of animal 

 and plant life will be afforded in so far as this may be consistent witJi 

 the primary purpose of such reserves. 

 8. The expression NATURE MONUMENTS shall denote : 

 Regions, objects, or living species of flora or fauna of aesthetic, 

 historic or scientific interest to which strict protection is given. The 

 purpose of nature monuments is the protection of a specific object, or a 

 species of flora or fauna, by setting aside an area, an object, or a single 

 species, as an inviolate nature monument, except for duly authorized 

 scientific investigations or government inspection. 



4. The expression STRICT WILDERNESS RESERVES shall 

 denote: 



A region under public control characterized by primitive condi- 

 tions of flora, fauna, transportation and habitation wherein there is 

 no provision for the passage of motorized transportation and all com- 

 mercial developments are excluded. 



5. The expression MIGRATORY BIRDS shall denote : 



Birds of those species, all or some of whose individual members, 

 may at any season cross any of the boundaries between the American 

 countries. Some of the species of the following families are examples 

 of birds characterized as migratory : Charadriidae, Scolopaciaae, 

 Caprimulgidae, Hirundinidae. 



Article II 



1. The Contracting Governments will explore at once the possibility 

 of establishing in their territories national parks, national reserves, 

 nature monuments, and strict wilderness reserves as defined in the 

 preceding article. In all cases where such establishment is feasible, the 

 creation thereof shall be begun as soon as possible after the effective 

 date of the present Convention. 



2. If in any country the establishment of national parks, national 

 reserves^ nature monuments, or strict wilderness reserves is found to be 

 impractical at present, suitable areas, objects or living species of 

 fauna or flora, as the case may be, shall be selected as early as possible 

 to be transformed into national parks, national reserves, nature monu- 

 ments or strict wilderness reserves as soon as, in the opinion of the 

 authorities concerned, circumstances will permit. 



