Biological Preserves

Under chapter 17 of the UN Treaty Governing Interplanetary Settlement and Development, all colony worlds with native ecologies were required to set aside and protect a representative sample of the local ecologies. These are usually marked on orbital maps as Biological Preserves.

The penalties imposed for deliberate trespass in these areas range from confiscation and fines for minor offences to execution for ecological genocide.

This is often confused with the large areas many colonies on shared worlds set aside within their recognised territories that are protected only by local laws such as the US Grant National Park on Tablelands/Uti/Gliese 33.