In Turkey, most protected areas belong to a park system and governed by national laws. There are 39 National
Parks, 29 Nature Parks, 32 Nature Reserve Areas and 104 Natural Monuments protected by the National Parks Law
(No. 2873) that has been come into force in 1983 by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Affairs. Besides
the above mentioned parks, 14 Specially Protected Areas are protected by the Decree-Law on the Establishment for
the Protection of Special Areas (No: 383) which was issued on 13 November 1989 by Ministry of Environment.
Moreover, 12 of the internationally important wetlands of Turkey have been added to Ramsar Convention List.