Parks and Recreation System Master Plan Update (2016) parks_and_recreation_system_master_plan_update_oct | Page 454

Figure 2. Physiographic regions in Jefferson County, Kentucky.
II. Purpose, Need, and Significant Issues
A. Definition and identification of natural resource areas within Metro Parks and Recreation
The United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) defines natural resource areas as
"an area of land and/or sea especially dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biological
diversity, and of natural and associated cultural resources, and managed through legal or other
effective means" (1994). Within the U.S., many cities and states have designated natural resource
areas (New York City [Sisinni and Anderson, 1993]) or state wild lands (Maryland [MD DNR,
2003]). Generally, these natural resource or wild land areas "have rare or vanishing species of
plant or animal life or similar features of interest worthy of preservation for use of present and
future residents…this may include unique ecological, geological, scenic, and contemplative
recreational areas" (MD DNR, 2003). Given that the mission of Metro Parks and Recreation is to
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