What are environmentally critical areas?

• A. Areas designated for commercial development regardless of ecological value.
• B. Areas like national parks, wildlife reserves, habitats of endangered species, and regions prone to natural calamities.
• C. Public recreation zones with no ecological sensitivity.
• D. Industrial zones with existing environmental permits.

Answer: (B)

Environmentally critical areas are places with high ecological value or high sensitivity to disturbance, where protection is essential to conserve biodiversity and reduce risk from environmental threats. National parks, wildlife reserves, habitats of endangered species, and regions prone to natural calamities fit this idea because they either host important ecosystems or are particularly vulnerable to damage from development or climate-related events. Protecting these areas helps preserve rare species, critical habitats, and the services ecosystems provide to people.

The other options describe places where the emphasis isn’t on protecting valuable or vulnerable environmental resources. Areas for commercial development, recreation zones thought to have no ecological sensitivity, or industrial zones with permits may involve environmental considerations, but they aren’t by definition environmentally critical in the way protected habitats and disaster-prone regions are.