National System of Protected Areas in Uruguay

The National System of Protected Natural Areas of Uruguay (Sistema nacional de áreas naturales protegidas de Uruguay, commonly abbreviated as SNAP) is an instrument of policy implementation and national environmental action plans for Uruguay.

Its creation was established by Law 17,234 of February 22, 2000, which was regulated by Executive Decree No. 52/005 of February 16, 2005. This law aims to "harmonize the criteria for planning and managing protected areas under certain categories, with a single regulation that sets the guidelines system" (Art. 1).

Categories
According to Law 17234, four categories of definition and management of the protected natural areas were established (Art.3°):
 * National park: areas where there are one or more ecosystems that are not significantly altered by human exploitation and occupation, plant and animal species; they are geomorphological sites and habitats that have special scientific, educational and recreational interest, or include natural landscapes which are considered of exceptional beauty.
 * Natural monument: areas containing one or more specific natural elements of remarkable national importance, such as a geological formation, a unique natural site, species, habitats or plants that may be endangered. Areas where human intervention, if realized, is small in impact and is under strict control.
 * Protected landscape
 * Protection sites

List of protected areas in Uruguay
Uruguay has 22 protected areas, covering 3.68% of the country's land area.

National parks

 * Cabo Polonio National Park
 * Esteros de Farrapos e Islas del Río Uruguay National Park
 * Isla de Flores National Park
 * San Miguel National Park

Natural monuments

 * Grutas del Palacio Natural Monument

Protected landscapes

 * Laguna de Castillos
 * Laguna de Rocha
 * Localidad Rupestre de Chamangá
 * Paso Centurión y Sierra de Ríos
 * Quebrada de los Cuervos y Sierras del Yerbal
 * Valle de Lunarejo

Protected areas of managed resources

 * Humedales del Santa Lucía
 * Montes del Queguay

Habitat/species management areas

 * Cerro Verde
 * Esteros y Algarrobales del Río Uruguay
 * Laguna Garzón
 * Rincón de Franquía

UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserves

 * Bañados del Este y Franja Costera
 * Bioma Pampa Biosphere Reserve

Ramsar sites

 * Bañados del Este
 * Esteros de Farrapos e Islas del Río Uruguay National Park
 * Laguna de Rocha