The law recognizes the following categories: •
zapovednik (a term similar to "
nature reserve") •
national park •
zakaznik (nature sanctuary (UNESCO terminology),
game reserve) •
Nature monument • international protected area (особо охраняемая территория международного значения); a 2008 amendment Some zapovedniks are also internationally recognized as
biosphere reserves. A number of areas are classified as
Ramsar wetlands of international importance. The first
zapovednik was established in 1925, then in the
Byelorussian SSR. In 1939 the
Belovezhskaya Pushcha zapovednik was created, in the territory added to BSSR after the
Soviet invasion of Poland. The Pripyat nature reserve was created in 1969 and
Palessya nature reserve in 1988. In 1991 Belovezhskaya Pushcha was classified as national park. In 1996, the Pripyat nature reserve was classified as the
Pripyatsky National Park ==List of protected areas==