International Nature Preserve
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International Nature Preserve | |
|---|---|
| League of Nations Nature Preserve in Crona | |
| Nature Preserve established | 2016 |
| Headquarters | Aurora City |
| Population (2025) | |
| • Total | 2,485 (permanent) |
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. 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 - became a viable option during The Deluge, when the League of Nations invested Urcea with supervisory authority over Venua'tino. A land survey conducted in 2016 found significant non-populated and non-grazing areas which were suitable for use, and the Cronan preserve was formally designated in 2016.
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).
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.
Geography and facilities
Northern Wilderness Area
The Northern Wilderness Area encompasses roughly the northernmost third of the preserve. The area is primarily arctic permafrost 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 blinds 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).
Central Wilderness Area
Southern Preserve Activity Area
Adjusted Climate Site 1 (ACS1)
Adjusted Climate Site 2 (ACS2)
Geodosic Climate City
Aurora City
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.