Countries with the most protected land area in percentage of total land
The following is a list of the ten nations that have the most protected lands in percentage of total area. ‘Protected lands’ can be anything from a national park to a national monument.
Austria: 28.3% of land is protected.
Austria is a supremely beautiful European nation with its predominant physical feature being the Alps running through the western part of the country. The wide variety of protected areas in the country range from alpine lakes to the imperial palaces of Vienna.
Bhutan: 31.5% of land is protected.
Bhutan is a Himalayan kingdom renowned for being among the most isolated places on Earth. In fact the country is so isolated that independent travel to the nation by foreigners is prohibited. In order to visit Bhutan you must book your trip with a certified tour operator. The hassle is most likely worth it however as the country is as there aren’t too many places in the world where you can experience a traditional Buddhist kingdom.
Botswana: 18.2% of land is protected.
Botswana is famed throughout Africa for its extraordinary conservation policies as well as opportune game viewing. The country is home to the ecological wonder, the Okavango Delta, the world’s largest inland delta. The largest lion prides ever observed in the wild were based here.
Cambodia: 20.6% of land is protected.
Cambodia is well known for being the home of the legendary temples of Angkor Wat. Truly one of the most magnificent places in the world, Cambodia has a remote feeling that makes you feel as if you’re exploring uncharted territory. Home to many more temples than just Angkor Wat, the country is also known for something rather unfortunate. The ‘killing fields’ of the Khmer Rouge are located just outside the capital Phnom Penh and they serve as a silent remainder to the brutality of man.
China: 14.8% of land is protected.
China is in the news more for its environmental disasters than for conservation, and that makes it easy to forget some of the natural beauty the country possesses. Tibet, the Terra-Cotta Soldiers, and the panda sanctuaries of Sichuan are just a few of the places in China that captivate millions from around the world on an annual basis.
Germany: 21.3% of land is protected.
From the Alps to the Rhine, natural beauty has a home in Germany. There are a countless number of castles, such as the one pictured below which served as the basis for Disney’s Cinderella castle. Other highlights in Germany include Bavaria, & the Black Forest.
Malta: 21.4% of land is protected.
Malta is a beautiful island nation in the Mediterranean having been of vital historical importance as a ‘fortress’ in the sea. Home to the once mighty ‘Knights of Malta’, and later to the British Empire. The island has seen everything from Ottoman invaders to Napoleon’s himself. In modern times the country consists of several islands with gorgeous beaches and deserted countryside.
New Zealand: 24% of land is protected.
New Zealand is on the forefront of pretty much environmental movement you can think of, so it’s no surprise that it also has a high percentage of protected lands. The country even imposed a ban of fossil fuel based power plants for the next decade at least. Naturally speaking the country is blessed with everything from mountainous terrain, gorgeous beaches, to volcanic tundra.
Seychelles: 16.7% of land is protected.
The Seychelles absolutely have to be on your list if you have a penchant for nature, because it just does not get more beautiful. The country is composed of over a hundred islands located 1,000 miles off the coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. A world leader in sustainable tourism, every tourist-related project in the country has to go through a lengthy environmental review before it can be constructed.
Venezuela: 33% of land is protected.
Venezuela is demonized in the media as a home to a populist dictator with eyes set on global domination. I’m not saying that characterization is unfair, but I am saying that you shouldn’t let a political feud get in the way of your exploring a beautiful place such as Venezuela. From the Andes, the Amazon, the Caribbean, and everything in between, the country is also home to the world’s tallest waterfall (pictured below).
