International Nature Preserve

The International Nature Preserve, formally the League of Nations Nature Preserve in Crona, is a nature preserve and territory in Crona administered by the League of Nations. It sits on the northern end of the Nysdra Sea and was previously part of Venua'tino.

Most of the Preserve is remote and unpopulated, with small exceptions for human activity provided for in the Code of the League of Nations, including scientific and tourist activity. The vast majority of the preserve is tundra, and it has been lauded as a major step in the conservation of tundra and arctic wildlife. Large portions of the southern part of the preserve have seen introduced species of both flora and fauna for preservation, drawing both praise and criticism in scientific circles. An international global seed vault is located in the northern part of the preserve.

Background
The idea of an international nature preserve was discussed as early as the years immediately following the First Great War, but no international body existed that could govern such a location and siting the preserve was a contentious issue. Most advocates argued the preserve had to be completely free of sovereign influence, and few nations which otherwise supported the project were willing to surrender territory for such a purpose. Land in northern Crona - particularly within sparsely populated portions of Venua'tino, which had been under League of Nations authority since 1967 - became a viable option during The Deluge as the region received renewed international attention. The League of Nations subsequently passed a Preserve Act authorizing the creation of a preserve in 2016. A land survey conducted in 2017 found significant non-populated and non-grazing areas which were suitable for use, and the Cronan preserve was formally designated in 2018.

Administration
As provided in the Code of the League of Nations, the Protected Lands and Sea Lanes Authority of the League of Nations is formally responsible for the administration of the preserve. The Authority maintains a set of laws - the Basic Statute of Conduct in the International Nature Preserve - as well as four agencies which operate primarily within the Preserve: the Maintenance and Facilities Agency, the Ecological Studies Agency, the Preserve Hospital and Wellness Agency, and the Preserve Security Force. These agencies provide for the basic day-to-day function within the preserve, and the Security Force is responsible for preventing poaching as well as hazardous dumping of materials. The Authority, though based out of Alba Concordia, functionally operates out of its headquarters in Aurora City within the Preserve. Within the Authority, the Commissioner of Protected Lands and Sea Lanes has deputed day-to-day executive authority within the preserve to the Deputy Commissioner for the Nature Preserve (DCNP). The site is funded by the League of Nations directly, by usage fees, and by some national agreements to fund the project.

Use limitations
The Code of the League of Nations provides that every member of the League of Nations may construct one research and observation facility within the preserve, limited to fifty researchers at any given time. Forty two nations have constructed such facilities, most of them in the wilderness areas. The Code also allows for tourist use of the preserve and the limited construction of hotels and hostels. Since the formation of the park, the Authority has only authorized hotels and hostels in one location - Aurora City - and it limits the entire preserve to no more than 35,000 concurrent tourists.

Northern Wilderness Area
The Northern Wilderness Area encompasses roughly the northernmost third of the preserve. The area is primarily subarctic with some tundra areas in the south and east. It is the natural home to many arctic and tundra animals and some limited flora. It is the hardest part of the preserve to access as tourist activity here is prohibited. Human activity in the Northern Wilderness Area is limited to remote recordings of animals with some advanced designed for mid-term human habitation allowed. Observation blinds in the Northern Wilderness Area are limited to no more than four personnel at a time. The area is subject to polar day and night.

International Seed Redundancy Facility
In the northwestern corner of the Northern Wilderness Area sits the International Seed Redundancy Facility. Mostly underground, this large structure serves as secure backup facility for the world's crop diversity. It maintains all agricultural products widely used as well as most types of flora currently known. The Facility provides security of the world's food supply against the loss of seeds in genebanks due to mismanagement, accident, equipment failures, funding cuts, war, sabotage, disease and natural disasters. Constructed between 2018 and 2020, most of the structure sits 500 ft within a sandstone mountain in the preserve. It was designed by Urcean engineering firms to be able to withstand a direct hit from a 200kt nuclear bomb. The complexity and robustness of the site lead to significant construction issues, as all of the equipment and materials had to be flown in via helicopter. Sitting far above sea level and far from major tectonic activity, the area is considered safe from most natural and manmade catastrophes. The seeds are stored in sealed three-ply foil packages and then placed into plastic tote containers on metal shelving racks. The storage rooms are kept at −18 °C (−0.4 °F). Many of the principles of seed preservation and the methods employed by the Facility were based on procedures perfected at the Polar World Archive, a facility operated by Metzetta.

Central Wilderness Area
The Central Wilderness Area sits between the Northern Wilderness and Southern Preserve Activity area, encompassing approximately the middle third of the preserve. It is mostly a tundra climate. Extensive human activity is not permitted here, but most of the independent national research facilities and bases are located within this area. Aerial tours, and some ground tours, of region are permitted for tourists.

Southern Preserve Activity Area
The Southern Preserve Activity Area encompasses all coastal areas of the Preserve, its territorial waters, as well as roughly the southernmost third of the country. It is the most habitable in terms of climate with portions of the area, especially the coast due to the Nysdra Sea, having a climate. Accordingly, it has the widest variety of flora and fauna and is the site of the most significant human habitation within the preserve. Significant research activity occurs within this Area and it is also the laxest in terms of restrictions on economic activity. Most human settlement within this area is within Aurora City, the primary population center of the preserve.

In addition to Aurora City and its natural wilderness, the Southern Preserve Activity Area contains three altered-climate preserve areas, the two Adjusted Climate Sites and the so-called Geodesic Climate City. These areas, which preserve wildlife and fauna from other parts of the world, are extremely controversial among the scientific community due to their introduction of foreign species into an area. The three sites are believed by the League of Nations to be fulfilling its mandate of environmental preservation for future generations from war, famine, climate change, and other forms of destruction.

Adjusted Climate Site 1 (ACS1)
Adjusted Climate Site 1 (ACS1) is a fenced-in area of flat land about 40 miles east of Aurora City. It encompasses about 250 acres of land and was constructed between 2018 and 2019, both for preservation purposes as well as as a proof of concept. The Site, which has advanced fencing which is intended to prevent ecological contamination, was populated with several species of small, medium, and large temperate-environment animals from Dericania as well as various types of Levantine flora. Electric heaters periodically placed underground throughout the Site, simulated warm air from three large heat generators on the east end of the Site, and a system by which the major stream running through the Site was warmed to about 65 F were implemented in order to make the site more habitable for temperate climate creatures. While many varieties of Levantine flora could not grow in the Site, many did and additional varieties of adapted flora were introduced by 2023. The Site has successfully sustained a population of about 150-200 large animals since 2024, with potential growth planned by preserve authorities. In addition to its role as a preservation site, ACS1 is used by researchers to study climate adaptation in animals and plants, and serves also as a popular tourist location.

Adjusted Climate Site 2 (ACS2)
Adjusted Climate Site 2 (ACS2) is an area under construction within the preserve modeled after the methods used in ACS1. When completed, ACS2 will encompass about 1,500 acres of land. It will serve as a major tourist destination and also a major research facility. Unlike ACS1, a small segment of ACS2 - about 50 acres - will be used to gradually acclimate Levantine flora and fauna to the natural northern climate by means of alteration over the course of generations. It is hoped that ACS2 will be able to serve as a test site for gradual plant and animal adaptation and acclimation for use not only throughout cold climates such as Crona but also in potential orbital and space uses.

Geodesic Climate City
The Geodesic Climate "City" is an expansive area about 20 miles from Aurora City which has forty freestanding climate controlled geodesic domes designed for preservation of foreign flora, insect life, as well as small mammals and amphibians. The domes retain much of the sun's natural heat due to the way they are constructed and need only modest electric heat powered by a nuclear reactor (the Geodesic Nuclear Power Facility) constructed about ten miles from the dome city. Most of the forty domes are about 100 feet in diameter and they are maintained by the Ecological Studies Agency. Each dome is intended to preserve a specific region's flora and fauna, and accordingly the climate controls in each match conditions of the source of the creatures and plants. Strict policies preventing cross-contamination are in place. The dome city began construction in 2019 and was completed in 2024, with significant delays due to the Final War of the Deluge.

One dome, which contains a carefully curated mix of bugs and small animals from across the world, is open to the public year round. The "zoo dome" has become famous for its variety of colorful butterflies, who thrive in the dome's conditions and are easily seen in large numbers. Another well known dome is Kikpar, which preserves flora and fauna native to central Sarpedon including Kikpari. In 2027, the Kikpari attempted to break out of the dome, injuring several researchers in the process before being suppressed.

Aurora City
Aurora City is the primary population center of the preserve and the only location where "civilian" economic activity is allowed. The permanent population of the City is about 2,000 and its primary economic sectors are government, tourism and transportation. The only large airport and seaport within the preserve are located in Aurora City. It has a small downtown area with shops, restaurants, and one Catholic Church, Our Lady of the Snows, which is part of the Archdiocese of Port St. Charles. Hotels are the most prominent structures in Aurora City, though the large Protected Lands and Sea Lanes Authority complex is the largest building in town, and it serves as the de facto governmental headquarters for the preserve. The city's location, an old Venua'tino fishing village, was chosen due to its natural sheltered harbor as well as stunning mountain views. Within Aurora City, the Taler is used as the de facto currency of exchange, and a majority of foreign visitors are from the Levantine Union or Nysdra Sea Treaty Association.

Demographics
The vast majority of permanent residents of the preserve are either researchers stationed by League of Nations member states, individuals employed by the Protected Lands and Sea Lanes Authority, service sector employees associated with the small tourist industry within the preserve, and the families of these individuals. The remaining population are transient natives of Venua'tino who seasonally migrate in or through the preserve with special permission, who probably number about 50 at any given time. As a result, the total permanent population of the preserve is no more than 3,000 and likely around 2,400 at any given time. Though the Final War of the Deluge had a negative effect on the tourist industry within the preserve, since 2025 the preserve has seen about 250,000 tourists per year, though no more than 30,000 on any given day.

Crticism
The Preserve's existence has been criticized by some, including the government of Ardmore, as a form of due to its appropriation of lands previously belonging to the Venua'tino. The scientific mission carried out at the Preserve has also been criticized, with the climate adaption and geodesic programs in particular viewed as "irresponsible" by some within the scientific community. In addition, the cost of maintaining a nuclear power facility and the climate controls for large areas has been condemned by political parties in several countries. The project overall has been criticized in some corners as a "vanity project", with accusations that its otherwise laudable goal has been used as political cover for the activities of The Deluge.