Reserve - Definition and Overview

Reserve can mean several things;

1. It can mean a place :

• • Where species of flora (plants) and fauna (animals) can be protected and preserved from extinction. Examples include nature reserves and game reserves.

See also: Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, National Nature Reserve

• • In Canada, a reserve is a First Nations community recognized by the Indian Act, similar to what are called Indian reservations in the United States. The term "reservation" is rarely used in Canada, and should not be used interchangeably with "reserve" in this context.

• • A place name for several places in the United States:
    • Reserve, Kansas
    • Reserve, Louisiana
    • Reserve, Montana
    • Reserve, New Mexico
    • Reserve, Wisconsin

2. A reserve can also mean a stockpile for future use. In economics it can be a stockpile of some commodity (such as oil) or most importantly a stockpile of money or monetary assets. Examples include the Federal Reserve of the United States of America.

3. In military terms a reserve can mean forces held back from battle in order to deal with unforseen contingencies, or to exploit successes, or to relieve troops that have lost their effectiveness. It can also mean troops not part of a permanent standing army, especially volunteer reserve.