Protected areas, interim bans

The natural values of an area can be protected pending a decision on a nature reserve. The County Administrative Board or the municipality may issue a temporary ban (according to the Environmental Code) to take measures without authorisation that could harm the values they want to protect — an interim ban. Examples of measures that may conflict with the purpose of the intended nature reserve are felling, house requirements, construction of buildings or ditch cleaning. An often appropriate alternative to interim prohibitions is that the State or a municipality enters into a nature conservation agreement with the property owner, meaning that the owner refrains from felling forests during the lease period.