Vermont Designated Natural Areas

Under Natural Areas Law (10 Vermont Statutes Annotated, Chapter 83 � 2607) the FPR commissioner, with the approval of the governor, may designate and set aside areas in the state forests and state parks as natural areas. There are 33 designated natural areas in Vermont. In many cases, these are sites which have retained some "wilderness character," though the law is quick to explain that this doesn't mean it has to be completely natural and undisturbed by humans. Sites which support rare or vanishing species of plants and animals or areas of unique ecological, geological, scenic or contemplative recreational value are also candidates for designation. The purpose of a state natural area is ostensibly "for the use of present and future residents of the State." This has meant in practice that most natural areas are managed to perpetuate the characteristics that led to their recognition as outstanding natural sites. In the case of some natural areas, this has meant minimal public information is developed, to discourage visitation that could result in resource damage. Other natural areas are located in popular recreation sites and host thousands of visitors every year. While natural areas are protected, they are open to compatible uses, including research, hiking and nature study; because natural areas are undeveloped, there are few devices to safeguard or protect visitors from falling or slippery rocks and other hazards.根据《自然区域法》（《佛蒙特州注释法典》第10篇第83章§2607条），森林与公园管理专员（FPR Commissioner，简称FPR）经州长批准后，可在州立森林与州立公园范围内划定并预留自然区域。佛蒙特州目前共有33处已划定的自然区域。多数情况下，这些区域保留了一定的"荒野特质"，但该法律明确指出，这并不意味着区域必须处于完全未受人类干扰的纯自然状态。支持珍稀或濒危动植物物种生存，或具备独特生态、地质、景观或静谧休闲价值的区域，也可被纳入自然区域的候选划定范围。州立自然区域的设立初衷表面上为"供本州当前及未来居民使用"。实际操作中，大多数自然区域的管理目标是永续保留使其被认定为优质自然场地的核心特征。针对部分自然区域，管理方仅公示极少的公共信息，以抑制可能造成资源破坏的过度到访行为；另有部分自然区域位于热门休闲场地内，每年接待数千名游客。尽管自然区域受到保护，但它们允许开展兼容的使用活动，包括科研、徒步与自然研学；由于自然区域未进行开发，鲜有安全防护设施以保障游客免受落石、湿滑岩石及其他安全隐患的威胁。