A conservation area is a tract of land that has been awarded protected status in order to ensure that natural features or biota are safeguarded. A conservation area may be a nature reserve, a park, a land reclamation project, or other area.

In the United Kingdom, conservation area is often the name designation given to nature reserves. Parts of built-up areas may also be declared as such, to preserve historical character.

Also see:

• Special Area of Conservation
• Conservation designation