Strict nature reserve

Their primary purpose is the preservation of biodiversity and as essential reference areas for scientific work and environmental monitoring.

As a result, strict nature reserves often form the core zones, with wilderness areas acting as a buffer zone, similar to the concept used for national parks (which are IUCN category II), but also for UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

[2] Officially created in the 1950s,[3] Integral Biological Reserves (French: Réserves biologiques intégrales, RBI) were dedicated to man free ecosystem evolution, on the contrary of Managed Biological reserves (French: Réserves biologiques dirigées, RBD) where a specific management is applied to conserve vulnerable species or threatened habitats.

In such reserves, all harvests coupe are forbidden excepted exotic species elimination or track safety works to avoid fallen tree risk to visitors (already existing tracks in or on the edge of the reserve).

They are designated by law in accordance with the Wilderness Act of 1964 by the United States Congress.