Protected Area Theory at the System Level

The total protected area designated by different countries varies enormously as does the balance within that area between natural and cultural landscapes. It is argued that population density and degree of urbanisation affect the area meriting protection and also the demand for protection, and that these, in turn, affect the area that is protected. Twenty-two European countries are classified into 4 groups (low population density rural; low population density urban; intermediate population density; and high population density). The areas protected by countries in each group and the extent to which they protect the natural as opposed to the cultural are substantially as predicted.