The main purpose of the protected areas is to conserve biodiversity and to provide a way for measuring the progress of such conservation. The 6 different categories are as follows:

- Category Ia – Strict Nature Reserve

- Category Ib – Wilderness Area

- Category II  – National Park

- Category III – Natural Monument or Feature

- Category IV – Habitat/Species Management Area

- Category V  – Protected Landscape/Seascape

- Category VI – Protected Area with sustainable use of natural resources

Some links for further information and facts, e.g.:

- https://www.iucn.org/our-work/protected-areas-and-land-use or

- https://www.biodiversitya-z.org/content/iucn-protected-area-management-categories or

- NABU (Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union) - Home or

- https://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/biodiversity/protected-areas/facts-and-figures/IUCN-management-categories or

- protected-area-management-guidelines.pdf (ibat-alliance.org)

(last visit on 19. March 2023).