The first category of area-based mechanisms includes "site-specific" legal instruments that confer
special status on individual wetlands.120
Such mechanisms include protected area instruments
ranging from strictly protected reserves and national parks to protected landscapes and nature parks
managed for multiple use. There are also many site-specific approaches that do not involve the
creation of protected areas. These include conservation orders applicable to individual wetlands
and even river stretches: the competent authority (at whatever level) is authorised by legislation t