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The sources, country by country: protected areas and drone maps

The register behind “The second map”. For each country: how many nature zones the UAS file has, what the official map shows, which law governs flying and who authorises it, with the links and the quoted sentences. Read on 23 September 2026, updated on 25 September.

Checked on 23 September 2026 — re-checked on 25 September 2026

Languages: Italiano · English · Français · Deutsch · Español

This page is the register behind the article “The second map”. Every row has the link to the source and the sentence that decides it, copied word for word in the original language. The twin register, on UAS zones, is here.

All sources were read on 23/09/2026, unless another date is given. The update of 25/09/2026 is at the end.

How it was done

  • UAS files. Each file was downloaded from its official address, without an account, and counted line by line.
    • We count the zones with reason NATURE. Where that field is missing, we use the equivalent field in the file's own language: the authority «Náttúruverndarstofnun» for Iceland, the layer «TNP_WGS» for Slovenia, the layers naturschutzgebiete, nationalparks, ffh-gebiete and vogelschutzgebiete for Germany, the files LKR318A/B/C for Czechia.
  • Quoted sentences. They are copied from the official page or PDF, and every page that decides something is archived as a screenshot with its SHA-256 hash.
    • The others were read from the text of the downloaded page or PDF. Only the Norwegian regulations (Lovdata answers scripts with 405) were read in the browser.
  • Pages that would not open. A page that would not open, or that asked for a login, is marked "not verified", with the reason. No form was filled in. Only the terms of the Estonian (utm.eans.ee) and Lithuanian (utm.ans.lt) maps and the two notices of the Polish map (dronemap.pansa.pl) were accepted. The GoDrone disclaimer («Ok» button) and the information windows of airspace.lv were also closed.
  • Italy. The d-flight file requires an operator login: it was downloaded on 25/09/2026 with an operator account.

AL — Albania

  • UAS file: no public file found · 0 NATURE zones · what they are: —
  • Official map: https://www.aac.gov.al/avione-pa-pilote-drone/ · nothing on protected areas
  • Law: Ligj 81/2017 «Për zonat e mbrojtura», neni 16, pika 4, lett. ç — https://bashkiaskrapar.gov.al/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/LIGJ-nr.-81-dat%C3%AB-4.5.2017.pdf (2017 text published on a municipal website; the qbz.gov.al portal returns no text) · «Me propozim me shkrim dhe të arsyetuar të administratës së ruajtjes së zonës, AKZM-ja mund të miratojë: … ç) fluturime joushtarake me helikopterë, balona, deltaplane etj;» (en: in national parks the AKZM may approve non-military flights by helicopters, balloons, hang-gliders etc.). It does not mention drones.
  • Who authorises: AKZM, the National Agency for Protected Areas, on a proposal from the area's administration — same link
  • The article said: “no — no UAS zone map” · Does it change? no. The legal basis should be added, though it does not mention drones.

AT — Austria

  • UAS file: https://www.austrocontrol.at/jart/prj3/ac/releases/de/upload/Dronespace/UASZones-ACG-20260921-160300-full-production.zip · version of 21/09/2026 · 2 NATURE zones out of 289 · what they are: the flight restriction areas «Flugbeschränkungsgebiet Neusiedler-see (LO R 16)» and «Flugbeschränkungsgebiet Rheindelta (LO R 18)», that is Lake Neusiedl and the Rhine delta. The UTM GeoJSON https://utm.dronespace.at/avm/utm/uas.geojson has 1 out of 293 (Rheindelta).
  • Official map: https://www.dronespace.at/geo_zonen/allgemeine_informationen · «Naturschutzgebiete sind derzeit nicht im Austro Control Dronespace System abgebildet»
  • Law:
    • Nature protection is a matter for the Länder. Example, Oö. Verordnung Managementpläne Nationalpark Kalkalpen, LGBl. 4/2026, § 14 Abs. 3 — https://ris.bka.gv.at/eli/lgbl/OB/2026/4/P14/LOO40026701 · «Die Verwendung von Drohnen oder das Überfliegen des Nationalparks mit motorbetriebenen Luftfahrzeugen oder mit Segelflugzeugen unter 500 m Flughöhe ist ausschließlich nur zu wissenschaftlichen oder nationalparkbezogenen Zwecken im Einvernehmen mit der Nationalparkgesellschaft zulässig.» (en: drones only for scientific or park purposes, in agreement with the park company)
    • For LO R 16 and LO R 18: LVR 2014, Anhang B Teil A — https://ris.bka.gv.at/eli/bgbl/ii/2014/297/ANL2/NOR40268458 · «Wenn öffentliche Interessen – insbesondere Interessen der Sicherheit der Luftfahrt oder Wildschutzinteressen – nicht entgegenstehen, hat die Austro Control GmbH auf Antrag Bewilligungen … zu erteilen.»
  • Who authorises: the Land authority or the park body (Kalkalpen: Nationalparkgesellschaft); Austro Control for LO R 16 and LO R 18; for the Neusiedler See also the Burgenländische Landesregierung — https://www.dronespace.at/geo_zonen/flugbeschraenkungsgebiete
  • The article said: “no — law only, in each Land's nature protection act” · Does it change? yes: the official file contains 2 NATURE zones (the bird sanctuaries of the Neusiedler See and the Rheindelta). From "not at all" to "partly, 2 zones".

BA — Bosnia and Herzegovina

  • UAS file: no public file found · 0 · —
  • Official map: https://www.bhdca.gov.ba/index.php/bs/info-2 · nothing on protected areas
  • Law: Zakon o Nacionalnom parku "Una" (FBiH, 2008), čl. 8, st. 1, t. 8 — https://www.fbihvlada.gov.ba/bosanski/zakoni/2008/zakoni/19hrv.htm · «8) letenje motornim letjelicama, osim letenja u međunarodnom zračnom prometu;» (en: in the zones of strict protection, flying motorised aircraft is banned). It is the law of a single park, not a general rule.
  • Who authorises: the park's public enterprise — same link · «Za letenje nad područjem stroge i usmjerene zaštite radi geodetskog i filmskog snimanja potrebno je pribaviti suglasnost javnoga poduzeća.»
  • The article said: “no — no BHDCA zone map” · Does it change? no

BE — Belgium

  • UAS file: https://map.droneguide.be/ows, WFS service, layer geo_zone_fast · read on 23/09/2026 · 0 nature zones out of 1,452 · the type_code field has 39 values (TIME_ZONE, NOTAM, CIV_MODEL_TERRAIN, MIL_DOMAIN, CIV_PRISON, ROYAL_ESTATES, …) and none concerns nature. The other layers of the service (airport, airspace, notam, uaszone…) have no nature category.
  • Official map: https://map.droneguide.be · no nature layer. The INBO website (Flanders) writes that the restriction zones over nature areas will be «via het centraal platform https://map.droneguide.be ontsloten», that is, they will be published on that map — https://www.vlaanderen.be/inbo/projecten/vliegbeperkingen-boven-natuurgebieden-swo
  • Law:
  • Who authorises:
    • Flanders: Agentschap Natuur en Bos — https://natuurenbos.vlaanderen.be/toegankelijkheid-en-activiteiten/activiteiten-organiseren · «Ontheffing van dit verbod is in uitzonderlijke gevallen mogelijk. Neem daarvoor contact op met AVES.»
    • Wallonia: the Walloon Government, same law on Wallex. Art. 11: «Le Gouvernement peut lever certaines interdictions prévues au présent article conformément à l'article 41 de la loi» · art. 41 §1: «Le Gouvernement peut délivrer des dérogations aux mesures de protection des réserves naturelles et forestières» (en: the Government may grant exemptions from the protection measures of the reserves). The application goes to the administration department designated by the Government (art. 41 §3): which department that is has not been verified.
  • The article said: “no — law only: the Flemish Nature Decree…” · Does it change? no in the class. The explicit drone ban in Walloon reserves should be added, and the data service can now be cited in full (1,452 zones, none about nature).

BG — Bulgaria

  • UAS file: https://uas.caa.bg/api/common/GvaMap/ExportZonesJson («Изтегляне на JSON» button on https://uas.caa.bg/) · «BGRZoneVersion 23-09-2026» · 4 NATURE zones out of 881 · what they are: Sofia water-supply sites (the «Бели Искър» dam, the «Бистрица» and «Панчарево» treatment plants, the «Кубратово» wastewater plant), not natural areas
  • Official map: https://uas.caa.bg/ · nothing on protected areas
  • Law:
    • Закон за защитените територии, чл. 21, т. 16 — http://www5.moew.government.bg/wp-content/uploads/filebase/Nature/Legislation/Zakoni/ZZT.pdf (version updated to DV 66/2013) · «В националните паркове се забраняват: … 16. други дейности, определени със заповедта за обявяване на защитената територия и плана за управление.»
    • Example, management plan of Pirin NP (РМС 646/2004) — https://pirin.bg/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Plan-za-uprav.pdf · «Не се разрешава летене под сто метра над земята с каквото и да е летателно средство (хеликоптери, делта планери, парапланери и др.)…» (en: flying below 100 m with any aircraft is not allowed)
  • Who authorises: the national park directorate (ДНП) — same plan
  • The article said: “no, in practice — file with 881 zones; its 4 NATURE zones are Sofia water-supply sites”, with the version of 30/07/2026 · Does it change? no in the outcome. The source should be updated: today the file of the day is on uas.caa.bg, version of 23/09/2026.

CH — Switzerland

CY — Cyprus

  • UAS file: https://drones.gov.cy/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/CYPRUS_GEO_ZONES_MAP_ver09.kmz · «CYPRUS GEO ZONES MAP ver09» (July 2026) · 0 nature zones out of 141 · the zones are airports, ΑΗΚ power installations, hospitals, ΕΦ military sites, embassies, ports and police stations. From a script the site asks for a captcha: the file was downloaded in the browser.
  • Official map: https://drones.gov.cy/geo-zones-map/ · nothing on protected areas
  • Law:
    • No general rule on drones. Ν. 153(Ι)/2003, art. 21(2) — https://www.cylaw.org/nomoi/enop/non-ind/2003_1_153/full.html · «Απαγορεύεται, στην περιοχή φυσικής κατανομής τους, η εκ προθέσεως παρενόχληση των ειδών πανίδας κοινοτικού ενδιαφέροντος…» (en: intentional disturbance of species of Community interest is banned)
    • An explicit ban in a special area of conservation (SAC), read on 25/09/2026: ΚΔΠ 88/2022, SAC «Λίμνη Παραλιμνίου CY3000008», para. 6 — https://www.cylaw.org/KDP/data/2022_1_88.pdf (scan of the gazette on CyLaw) · «η διεξαγωγή πτήσεων με drones εντός της ΕΖΔ ή / και στην εναέρια περιοχή πάνω από την ΕΖΔ» (en: [it is banned] to fly drones in the SAC or in the airspace above it). The other 31 SAC and forest decrees read contain nothing on drones.
  • Who authorises: for Lake Paralimni the rule provides for no exemptions. The SAC's manager is «το Διευθυντή του Τμήματος Περιβάλλοντος» (en: the Director of the Department of Environment), same link. For the other areas not verified.
  • The article said: “no — archived copy of the file of 01/01/2026: 144 zones, none NATURE” · Does it change? no in the outcome. The source should be updated: file ver09, 141 zones, none about nature. The Lake Paralimni ban should be added.

CZ — Czechia

DE — Germany

  • UAS file: DIPUL WFS https://uas-betrieb.de/geoservices/dipul/ows, 31 layers · read on 23/09/2026 · 14,314 nature zones out of 87,928 · what they are: naturschutzgebiete 9,012, ffh-gebiete 4,544, vogelschutzgebiete 742, nationalparks 16
  • Official map: https://www.dipul.de/homepage/de/informationen/geografische-gebiete/wfs-wms/ · layers «Naturschutzgebiete», «Nationalparks», «FFH-Gebiete», «Vogelschutzgebiete»
  • Law: LuftVO § 21h Abs. 3 Nr. 6 — https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/luftvo_2015/__21h.html · «über Naturschutzgebieten im Sinne des § 23 Absatz 1 des Bundesnaturschutzgesetzes, über Nationalparks im Sinne des § 24 … wenn die zuständige Naturschutzbehörde dem Betrieb ausdrücklich zugestimmt hat …»
  • Who authorises: the competent Naturschutzbehörde (Land authority) — same provision
  • The article said: “yes — file (DIPUL GeoJSON and ED-318) …” · Does it change? no. The total today is 87,928, against the article's 87,923.

DK — Denmark

EE — Estonia

  • UAS file: https://utm.eans.ee/avm/utm/uas.geojson · read on 23/09/2026 · 31 «Nature» zones out of 247 · what they are: «EER…FAUNA» zones, restriction NO_RESTRICTION, message «You must have a permission from the Estonian Environmental Board.»
  • Official map: https://utm.eans.ee/avm/. Terms accepted on 23/09/2026. The FAUNA zones are drawn in green. Clicking a zone shows «EER4FAUNA» and «You must have a permission from the Estonian Environmental Board. The written application must be sent to info@keskkonnaamet.ee.», H24, «SFC → 120 M AGL».
  • Law: Vabariigi Valitsuse korraldus 25.08.2022 nr 229, p. 5.2 and p. 5.4 — https://www.riigiteataja.ee/akt/326082022001 · «Geograafilised alad mehitamata õhusõiduki lendamise piiramiseks keskkonnakaitse eesmärgil on punktis 2 sätestatud alad … Objekti valdajaks on Keskkonnaamet.»
  • Who authorises: Keskkonnaamet — same act, p. 5.4 · «…võib lend toimuda ainult objekti valdaja loa alusel…»
  • The article said: “yes, as information — file: 31 "FAUNA" zones out of 235” · Does it change? no. The total today is 247. The map confirms that the zones are visible to the pilot.

FI — Finland

FR — France

  • UAS file: IGN/DGAC layer TRANSPORTS.DRONES.RESTRICTIONS:carte_restriction_drones_lf, https://data.geopf.fr/wfs/ows · read on 23/09/2026 · 0 out of 89,737 (no «remarque» mentions nature). The SIA's ED-269 sits behind an account and was not read.
  • Official map: official metadata of the layer — https://data.geopf.fr/csw?REQUEST=GetRecordById&SERVICE=CSW&VERSION=2.0.2&OUTPUTSCHEMA=http://standards.iso.org/iso/19115/-3/mdb/2.0&elementSetName=full&ID=DGAC_RESTRICTIONS-UAS · «Ces restrictions seront prochainement intégrées au sein de la carte « Restrictions UAS catégorie Ouverte et aéromodélisme.»
  • Law: Légifrance answers scripts with 403. The texts were read on 25/09/2026 from the DILA's official LEGI database (https://echanges.dila.gouv.fr/OPENDATA/LEGI/, dump of 13/07/2025 plus the daily updates up to 24/09/2026).
    • Code de l'environnement, art. L331-4-1 — https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/article_lc/LEGIARTI000006833529 · «La réglementation du parc national et la charte prévues par l'article L. 331-2 peuvent, dans le coeur du parc :» … «2° Soumettre à un régime particulier et, le cas échéant, interdire» … «le survol du coeur du parc à une hauteur inférieure à 1 000 mètres du sol» (en: the park's regulations and charter may, in the core of the park, regulate or ban overflight below 1,000 m). Art. R331-68: «7° Le survol du coeur du parc national.» (fifth-class petty offence). They do not mention drones.
    • Founding decrees of the parks. Example, décret 2009-448 (Écrins), art. 15-I-2°, quoted by the park — https://www.ecrins-parcnational.fr/les-survols-motorises · «le survol motorisé du cœur du parc à moins de 1000 m du sol est interdit sauf autorisation du directeur».
    • Arrêté of 3 December 2020 on airspace (JORFTEXT000042635803), art. 4 in force since 01/01/2026 · «ceux-ci se conforment aux interdictions et restrictions de survol publiées par la voie de l'information aéronautique» (en: drones comply with the bans published in the aeronautical information). It mentions neither parks nor reserves.
  • Who authorises: the national park director — https://mercantour-parcnational.fr/fr/dossiers/les-drones-de-loisir-en-coeur-de-parc-national · «Des autorisations dérogatoires peuvent être délivrées par le directeur du Parc national sur demande…» · Code de l'environnement, art. R331-19-2: «l'absence de réponse du directeur de l'établissement public ou du conseil d'administration de l'établissement public dans un délai de quatre mois à compter de la réception de la demande d'autorisation vaut décision implicite de rejet.» (en: four months without an answer count as a refusal)
  • The article said: “announced … "seront prochainement intégrées"” · Does it change? no

GB — United Kingdom

GE — Georgia

  • UAS file: no public file found · — · —
  • Official map: https://uas.gov.ge/EN · nothing
  • Law:
    • Law on the system of protected areas (no. 136 of 07/03/1996), consolidated version of 28/05/2026, read in the browser — https://matsne.gov.ge/en/document/view/32968. The English text contains none of «aircraft», «flight», «fly», «airspace», «drone» or «unmanned». The law does not regulate flying.
    • The management plan of the Lagodekhi protected areas (https://matsne.gov.ge/ka/document/view/2909716) mentions drones only as a ranger tool: «უპილოტო საფრენი აპარატები (დრონი)».
    • The closest basis remains GCAA Order no. 156/2020, art. 3 — https://gcaa.ge/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/UAS-Operation-Rules-GCAA.pdf: zones may restrict flying «…საავიაციო უშიშროებასთან და გარემოს დაცვასთან დაკავშირებული რისკების პრევენციის მიზნით;» (en: also to protect the environment).
  • Who authorises: no body named by any rule. The GCAA establishes the zones (Order 156, art. 16).
  • The article said: “not verified” · Does it change? yes: no file, no zone map, and the protected areas law does not regulate flying. From "not verified" to "not at all".

GR — Greece (not in the article)

  • UAS file: no public file · — · —
  • Official map: https://dagr.hasp.gov.gr/ (Drone Aware GR), opened in the browser. The layers are «Active / future limitations», «Active / future warnings», «Active / future permitted fragments» and «Hellenic airspace data (validity: June 2016)» (CTR, ATZ, LGR, LGD, LGP, LGC). No layer for protected areas. The HCAA page lists as yellow and magenta zones only «Airports, Archaeological Sites» — https://hcaa.gov.gr/en/where-you-are-allowed-fly-uas-greece. The HCAA FAQ, read on 25/09/2026 — https://uas.hcaa.gov.gr/Faq/Dagr · «Αν το DAGR δείξει ότι υπάρχει κάποιος περιορισμός στη συγκεκριμένη αυτή περιοχή, τότε σίγουρα απαγορεύεται να πετάξετε εκεί.» (en: if DAGR shows a restriction in that area, flying there is certainly banned)
  • Law: read on 25/09/2026 in the official gazette (et.gr).
    • Δ/ΥΠΑ/21860/1422, ΦΕΚ Β 3152/30.9.2016, art. 19 para. 3 — https://search.et.gr/el/fek/?fekId=533744 · «Για την πραγματοποίηση πτήσεων ΣμηΕΑ άνωθεν των περιοχών που αναφέρονται κατωτέρω απαιτείται ειδική άδεια από την ΥΠΑ/Δ4 καθώς και από την κατά λόγο αρμοδιότητας Δημόσια Υπηρεσία» … «3.9 Σε περιοχές περιβαλλοντολογικής προστασίας» (en: flying a drone over the areas listed requires a special authorisation from ΥΠΑ/Δ4 and from the competent public body … 3.9 in environmental protection areas). There is no consolidated text; two recent laws refer to it (ν. 5224/2025, art. 225, and ν. 5306/2026, art. 416 — https://search.et.gr/el/fek/?fekId=800080).
    • Samaria National Park: ΥΠΕΝ/ΔΔΦΠΒ/92126/2333, ΦΕΚ Β 5266/18.9.2024, art. 2, point 24 — https://search.et.gr/el/fek/?fekId=771091 · «Εντός των ορίων του Εθνικού Δρυμού απαγορεύονται: … 24. Η απογείωση, χειρισμός και προσγείωση κάθε είδους ΣΜηΕΑ, πλην εκείνων που έχουν λάβει ειδική άδεια από τις αρμόδιες αρχές.» (en: in the park, take-off, piloting and landing of drones of any kind are banned, except with a special authorisation)
    • Nestos Straits: ΦΕΚ Β 2299/2021, art. 13 — https://search.et.gr/el/fek/?fekId=616417 · «κδ’) Η πτήση Συστημάτων μη Επανδρωμένων Αεροσκαφών (ΣμηΕΑ - Drone) χωρίς προηγούμενη άδεια της αρμόδιας Δασικής Αρχής που εκδίδεται μετά από γνώμη του Φορέα Διαχείρισης.» (en: [banned] flying drones without an authorisation from the forest authority, issued after consulting the managing body)
    • The environmental laws ν. 3937/2011 and ν. 4685/2020 mention neither drones nor overflight.
  • Who authorises: ΥΠΑ/Δ4 together with the competent body (decision 21860/1422). In parks with their own regulation, the forest authority after consulting the managing body (ΟΦΥΠΕΚΑ).
  • The article said: — (absent) · Does it change? to be added: "not at all" on the map; the law requires a special authorisation over environmental protection areas

HR — Croatia

  • UAS file: no file to download. The official app https://amc.crocontrol.hr/ («Karta stanja (anonimni korisnici)») receives the UAS zones without a login through its data channel (SignalR, hub «amchub», message «SRVC_DroneReservations»). Read on 23/09/2026 without an account: 0 nature zones out of 44 (27 URG, 17 ULG), valid until 2030. They are airports (codes LD…), heliports («URG H …») and zones named after places (Žitnjak, Sisak, Omišalj, Virje, Slavonski Brod, LDURG40/41, OS1). None has the name or location of a park. The same message also contains flight bookings with third parties' names: they were not kept.
  • Official map: https://www.ccaa.hr/5 · «Za prikaz zemljopisnih područja UAS-a na prostoru Republike Hrvatske u upotrebi je službeni alat Hrvatske kontrole zračne plovidbe, AMC portal.» No category for protected areas.
  • Law: Pravilnik o zaštiti i očuvanju NP Plitvička jezera (NN 80/2021), čl. 36 st. 5 — https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2021_07_80_1488.html · «Na području Nacionalnog parka zabranjeno je snimanje bespilotnom letjelicom iz zraka osim u iznimnim slučajevima uz odobrenje Ustanove.» The framework law, Zakon o zaštiti prirode, contains no flight ban.
  • Who authorises: the park body (Javna ustanova NP Plitvička jezera) — same link. The flight must also be authorised by Hrvatska kontrola zračne plovidbe.
  • The article said: “no — park regulations only, for example Plitvice” · Does it change? no. It is now also verified on the AMC map: 44 zones, none about nature.

HU — Hungary

  • UAS file: no public file · — · —
  • Official map: https://ais.hungarocontrol.hu/uas-legterkorlatozasok · «Korlátozott légtérben pilóta nélküli légijármű az adott légtér igénybevételére vonatkozó szabályok figyelembevételével működtetethető.» No nature layer named.
  • Law:
  • Who authorises: the aviation authority (4/1998, 5/B. § (3)) · «A korlátozott légtér igénybevételét a légiközlekedési hatóság legfeljebb harminc napra engedélyezheti.»
  • The article said: “no — law only … (Act LIII of 1996, §35)” · Does it change? no. Decree 4/1998, which mentions drones, should be added.

IE — Ireland

IS — Iceland

IT — Italy

  • UAS file: d-flight, file downloaded with the operator login on 25/09/2026 · «ITA ZoneVersion 25/09/2026 04:18:55» · 313 NATURE zones out of 4,647 · all REQ_AUTHORISATION; 312 have the code LIPROT… (parks, reserves, biotopes, natural monuments), one is LIPDOLFRIU. «Parco nazionale» appears in the name of 15 zones, that is 14 parks (the Stelvio has two sectors), from Gran Paradiso to Pollino.
  • Official map: https://www.enac.gov.it/sicurezza-aerea/droni/zone-geografiche-space/voli-con-droni-uas-limitazioni-riserve-dello/ · d-flight also has «zone per motivi di protezione ambientale»
  • Law: L. 394/1991, art. 11 para. 3 let. h — https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:legge:1991-12-06;394~art11 · «h) il sorvolo di velivoli non autorizzato, salvo quanto definito dalle leggi sulla disciplina del volo.» Penalty in art. 30 para. 1 (arrest of up to six months or a fine).
  • Who authorises: the park authority (Ente Parco); ENAC approves the ban and publishes it on d-flight — same ENAC link · «sono proibite al sorvolo solo quelle aree in corrispondenza dei Parchi il cui divieto è stato approvato dall'ENAC ed è quindi stato pubblicato sulla piattaforma d-flight.»
  • The article said: “partly — d-flight file: 313 NATURE zones out of 4,627” · Does it change? no in the outcome. The total today is 4,647.

LI — Liechtenstein (not in the article)

  • UAS file: inside the Swiss file (same link as CH) · 0 out of 3 (LSXB Balzers ×2, Castle of Vaduz)
  • Official map: https://www.landespolizei.li/informationen/drohnen · refers to the FOCA map, «welche auch in Liechtenstein ihre Anwendung findet»
  • Law: no rule on drones in protected areas. The NSchG and 14 ordinances on protected areas on gesetze.li mention neither drones nor aircraft. The ordinance on landings outside aerodromes, art. 4, re-read on 25/09/2026 — https://www.gesetze.li/konso/html/2016334000?version=4 · «Aussenlandungen sind in den folgenden besonders schützenswerten Gebieten im Sinne des Naturschutzgesetzes (NSchG) nicht zulässig» (en: landings outside aerodromes are not allowed in protected areas). It does not mention drones, and it is not clear whether it applies to them.
  • Who authorises: for drones in general, same police link · «In Liechtenstein ist für allgemeine Fragen zu Drohnen, Bewilligungsverfahren, etc. der Bereich Zivilluftfahrt des Amtes für Hochbau und Raumplanung zuständig.» For protected areas no rule found; llv.li answers 403.
  • The article said: — (absent) · Does it change? to be added: not at all in the file, law not found

LT — Lithuania

  • UAS file: https://utm.ans.lt/avm/utm/uas.geojson · read on 23/09/2026 · 1 nature zone out of 340 (341 on the map at 12:10). No zone has reason NATURE: it is identified by its contact. It is «UP0080», reason «Other», restriction PROHIBITED, over Žuvintas, with the message «Prohibited geographical zone. Flights are only possible with permission from the responsible authorities. Contact: dzukija.suvalkija@saugoma.lt +370 682 26132», that is the Dzūkija-Suvalkija directorate of the State Service for Protected Areas (domain saugoma.lt). The other Other zones are mostly Litgrid power lines and military sites. I had missed this zone in this morning's first count.
  • Official map: https://utm.ans.lt/avm/. Terms accepted on 23/09/2026. Zone UP0080 appears in yellow with the same message. The map has no layers or legend for protected areas.
  • Law: Specialiųjų žemės naudojimo sąlygų įstatymas XIII-2166, art. 77 para. 1 point 3 — https://e-seimas.lrs.lt/portal/legalAct/lt/TAD/46c841f290cf11e98a8298567570d639/asr · «Ornitologiniuose draustiniuose draudžiama: … 3) skraidyti orlaiviais su varikliu (varikliais) žemesniame kaip vieno kilometro aukštyje…» It does not mention drones.
  • Who authorises: the zone's manager. LTSA Order 2BE-131, point 16, read on 25/09/2026 — https://e-seimas.lrs.lt/rs/legalact/TAD/b8b77522fbfa11edbc0bd16e3a4d3b97/ · «Geografinės zonos valdytojas gali nustatyti leidimo skristi draudžiamojoje geografinėje zonoje tvarką…» and «Jei tokia tvarka nustatyta, ji turi būti paskelbta geografinės zonos valdytojo interneto svetainėje…» (en: the zone's manager may set the procedure for a flight permit, and if it does, it publishes it on its website). For Žuvintas the manager is the Dzūkija-Suvalkija directorate (contact in zone UP0080). Its procedure is not verified: vstt.lrv.lt and saugoma.lt answer 403.
  • Aviation law, art. 18 para. 5 point 2, text in force since 01/06/2026 — https://e-seimas.lrs.lt/rs/actualedition/TAIS.112075/xiwZzoBwNn/ · the authority may set prohibited or restricted UAS zones «virš teritorijų, kuriose yra ornitologiniai draustiniai, valstybiniai gamtiniai rezervatai, gamtiniai rezervatai ir gamtiniai draustiniai, esantys valstybiniuose parkuose, biosferos rezervatai ir biosferos poligonai, paukščių apsaugai svarbios teritorijos» (en: over ornithological reserves, State nature reserves, reserves in State parks, biosphere reserves, important bird areas)
  • The article said: “not verified” · Does it change? yes: the file and the map can be read, and they contain a single protected-area zone (Žuvintas), without reason NATURE. From "not verified" to "partly, 1 zone".

LU — Luxembourg

LV — Latvia (not in the article)

MD — Moldova

  • UAS file: no official file found · — · —
  • Official map: no official map found (https://www.caa.md/rpas-3-104 → 404)
  • Law:
    • Legea 1538/1998 privind fondul ariilor naturale protejate de stat, version in force since 25/04/2026 (amended by LP53 of 09/04/2026), read in the browser — https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc_id=154107&lang=ro. It contains no rules on flying or on drones: «zbor» appears only in the «zonele lor de zbor» of migratory species.
    • The closest basis remains HG 949/2022, pct. 50 — https://www.caa.md/storage/upload/normative/normativ-reports/732/HG%20nr.949_ro.pdf · «Atunci când definesc zonele geografice UAS din motive de siguranță, de securitate, de protecție a vieții private sau de mediu, Autoritatea Aeronautică Civilă este în drept: 1) să interzică o parte sau totalitatea operațiunilor UAS…»
  • Who authorises: the Autoritatea Aeronautică Civilă (same source), for the zones it establishes; no environmental body named
  • The article said: “not verified” · Does it change? yes: no file, no official map, and the protected areas law does not regulate flying. From "not verified" to "not at all".

ME — Montenegro

MT — Malta (not in the article)

  • UAS file: no downloadable file. The official map https://tmcad.idronect.com/map loads the zones from the server with the public method Zones.getFilteredZones, without a login. Read on 25/09/2026: 14 nature zones out of 188. They are identified by the ERA contact (13 zones) or by «Nature Reserve» in the name (2; Salina has both). Examples: «Is-Simar», «Il-Ġebla tal-Ħalfa», «L-Għadira», «Salina Nature Reserve», «Foresta 2000 Nature Reserve». The map's restricted area was not opened.
  • Official map: https://www.transport.gov.mt/aviation/drones/geographical-zones-5487 (read on 23/09/2026; on 25/09 it answers 403) · «These include embassies, nature reserves, hospitals, power stations, correctional facilities, and of course airports and heliports.»
  • Law: not found. S.L. 549.44 does not mention drones.
  • Who authorises: the ERA, Environment and Resources Authority, according to Transport Malta's zone data · «Il-Ġebla tal-Ħalfa - Please contact: nature.permitting@era.org.mt» · «L-Għadira - please upload permit from: nature.permitting@era.org.mt». In the reserves managed by BirdLife Malta the contact is also BirdLife. The ERA website answers 403: not verified on the authority's website.
  • The article said: “not verified” · Does it change? yes: the official map has 14 nature zones out of 188. From "not verified" to "on the map only".

NL — Netherlands

NO — Norway

PL — Poland

  • UAS file: no public file to download (KML API with a key, https://api.dronemap.pansa.pl/v1/kml). The official map https://dronemap.pansa.pl/ however loads the zones from https://api.dronemap.pansa.pl/v1/zones with an anonymous login. Read on 23/09/2026 after accepting the notices «Informations» and «The precise location of the device». 76 zones out of 3,172 lie over national parks, all of type DRA-R. They cover all 23 national parks: 70 have «PN» in the name, 6 are «DRA-RL 0500 A–F» of Tatrzański Park Narodowy. Example «DRA-R 0507 Kampinoski PN 2»: «Uzyskaj zgodę Zarządzającego strefą geograficzną DRA-R na wykonywanie operacji z użyciem BSP.» and «Procedura uzyskania zgody na lot BSP: https://kampn.gov.pl/loty-dronem». No zones for reserves (rezerwaty) or Natura 2000 sites.
  • Official map: https://www.pansa.pl/nowe-granice-stref-geograficznych-nad-parkami-narodowymi-wazne-informacje-dla-pilotow-bsp/ · «zarządzający parkami wnioskując do PAŻP o wyznaczenie precyzyjnych granic stref, określili obszary, w których drony (BSP) mogą latać bez zgody, oraz te, gdzie zgoda jest potrzebna.»
  • Law: Prawo lotnicze, art. 124 ust. 1 (Dz.U. 2025 poz. 1431) — https://api.sejm.gov.pl/eli/acts/DU/2025/1431/text.pdf · «Zabrania się wykonywania lotów statkami powietrznymi z napędem nad obszarami parków narodowych i rezerwatów przyrody poniżej wysokości względnych podanych przez instytucje zapewniające służby ruchu lotniczego…»
  • Who authorises: the national park director. Example — https://bdpn.gov.pl/dron-w-parku · «…za zgodą Dyrektora Bieszczadzkiego Parku Narodowego»
  • The article said: “yes, on the map — DRA-R zones … checked on Kampinos” · Does it change? no in the class. It is now verified on all 23 parks (76 zones), not on one only. Nature reserves are not on the map.

PT — Portugal

  • UAS file: https://dnt.anac.pt/json/UASZoneVersion%2022042026083205.json · 22/04/2026 · 185 NATURE zones out of 358 · «Área de natureza protegida»
  • Official map: https://www.anac.pt/vPT/Generico/drones/zona_proibidas_condicionadas/Paginas/Zonasproibidasoucondicionadas.aspx · «As áreas geográficas são estabelecidas por motivos de segurança operacional, segurança contra atos ilícitos, proteção de privacidade ou do ambiente.»
  • Law: Decreto-Lei 142/2008 (legal regime for nature conservation), original text, read on 25/09/2026 — https://files.diariodarepublica.pt/1s/2008/07/14200/0459604611.pdf · art. 14 n.º 3 d): the act that classifies an area may ban, or make subject to authorisation, «a circulação de pessoas e bens e o sobrevoo de aeronaves» (en: the movement of people and goods and the overflight of aircraft). It does not mention drones. The text as amended by DL 242/2015 was not read (diariodarepublica.pt requires JavaScript).
  • Who authorises: ICNF — https://www.icnf.pt/formularios · «Para o sobrevoo de aeronaves não tripuladas nas Áreas Protegidas de âmbito Nacional é necessário solicitar autorização ao ICNF.» (en: flying a drone over national protected areas requires ICNF authorisation) · «Nas Áreas Protegidas de Âmbito Local e Regional o sobrevoo com drone é uma atividade sujeita a autorização» · official form: https://www.icnf.pt/api/file/doc/03170b97ae28ad6c («Pedido de autorização para o sobrevoo de drones em áreas protegidas de Portugal Continental»)
  • The article said: “yes — file: 185 NATURE zones out of 358” · Does it change? no

RO — Romania

  • UAS file: https://flightplan.romatsa.ro/init/static/zone_restrictionate_uav.json · Last-Modified 10/09/2026 · 0 out of 1,272 · the file has no reason field (all RESTRICTED), and no text mentions nature. Re-read from a script on 25/09/2026. The zones' contacts are the military, ROMATSA, the Ministry of Economy, CNCAN and OMV Petrom.
  • Official map: https://www.caa.ro/informatii-de-interes-public/pages/zone-geografice-uas, read on 25/09/2026 without a captcha: it refers to the ROMATSA map, «ZONE GEOGRAFICE UAS (Harta cu zone interzise sau restrictionate)». The ROMATSA page https://flightplan.romatsa.ro/init/drones says «The .shp and .json contain the displayed zones.»: map and file match.
    • Who proposes the zones: Ordin 1460/M.157/2022, art. 2 para. (1) let. c) — https://legislatie.just.ro/Public/DetaliiDocument/260641 · «zonele geografice UAS … se înființează … prin hotărâre a Consiliului pentru Managementul Spațiului Aerian, la propunerea furnizorilor de servicii de control al traficului aerian, a administratorilor aerodromurilor sau, după caz, a utilizatorilor spațiului aerian». Environmental bodies do not appear.
  • Law: OUG 57/2007, consolidated version of 12/09/2026 — https://legislatie.just.ro/Public/DetaliiDocument/83289 · no article on overflight or on drones. The rules are set by each area, art. 21 para. (1): «Planurile de management și regulamentele ariilor naturale protejate … se elaborează de către administratorii acestora». Example, regulation of Retezat National Park, art. 45 — https://www.retezat.ro/media/files/regulamentul%20pnr.docx · «Se interzice survolarea voluntară cu orice tip de aparat de zbor cu motor termic, cu sau fără pilot, a teritoriului ANP la o înălțime mai mică de 1000 m…» It applies only to combustion engines, so not to electric drones. The park regulations are in the Monitorul Oficial «bis», which must be paid for: not read.
  • Who authorises: the area's administrator, under its regulation. In the Danube Delta there is an ARBDD permit — https://permise.ddbra.ro/ · «Permis survol dronă de mici dimensiuni (sub 500 g)» (en: overflight permit for small drones, under 500 g), 50 RON.
  • The article said: “no — ROMATSA file with 1,272 zones, all restricted, and no nature field” · Does it change? no

RS — Serbia

  • UAS file: no public file · — · —
  • Official map: Uredba 69/2026, čl. 4, provides for a mobile app with orange and red zones. The app was not seen.
  • Law:
  • Who authorises: the protected area's manager (and, for nesting sites outside the areas, the nature protection institute) — Uredba čl. 20 st. 3 · «…ако је оператер UAS-а претходно прибавио одобрење управљача заштићеног подручја…»
  • The article said: “no — law only: an order of 2020 …” and, in the method, that the new decree “could not be found on an official page” · Does it change? yes: the decree exists, on cad.gov.rs, and from 29/10/2026 it bans drones over grade I protected areas. The 2020 order is also on an official page.

SE — Sweden

SI — Slovenia (not in the article)

SK — Slovakia (not in the article)

ES — Spain

EEA data used by Dronetrake

5. Natura 2000

6. CDDA (now «Nationally designated areas»)

7. MANAGEMENT table (managing bodies, with their emails)

  • What it contains: field catalogue — https://sdi.eea.europa.eu/catalogue/srv/api/records/46fbc36e-7cf0-4cd5-a718-927d22b2da4b/formatters/xml · field ORG_EMAIL, «E-mail of the body(ies) responsible for the site management»
  • What the EEA and the Commission say about reusing those contacts: the metadata contain no sentence on personal data or privacy. The same CC BY 4.0 licence of DG ENV applies (point 5). The sources that touch the subject are:
    • Standard Data Form, Decision 2011/484/EU, notes §6.1 — https://publications.europa.eu/resource/celex/32011D0484.ENG.xhtml · «Enter the full reference including name, address, phone/fax, e-mail of the authority and/or individual responsible for the management of the site.» The field may therefore contain contacts of natural persons.
    • Decision 2011/833/EU on the reuse of Commission documents, art. 4 — https://publications.europa.eu/resource/celex/32011D0833.ENG.xhtml · «This Decision shall be implemented in full respect of the rules on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data, and in particular Regulation (EC) No 45/2001.»
    • EEA legal notice — https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/legal-notice · «The re-use of certain data may be subject to different conditions, and if so the item concerned is accompanied by a copyright mark or other mention of the specific conditions relating to it.»
  • In short: no official text expressly authorises or forbids reusing the managers' emails. Where the email belongs to a natural person, the rules on personal data apply. This is not a decision, it is to be assessed.

Countries where the article must be corrected

  • AT — Austria: the ED-269 file has 2 NATURE zones (LO R 16 Neusiedler See, LO R 18 Rheindelta). It is not "not at all".
  • IS — Iceland: the public file of the official app has 37 protected-area zones with a ban and the authority Náttúruverndarstofnun. It belongs among the "yes, in the file".
  • RS — Serbia: Uredba 69/2026, čl. 20, bans drones over grade I protected areas from 29/10/2026, and it is on cad.gov.rs. The 2020 order is also on an official page.
  • NL — Netherlands: the ministry's file (17/12/2025) can be read: 0 NATURE out of 743, and the Waddenzee is SENSITIVE. From "not verified" to "not at all in the file".
  • LT — Lithuania: the file and the UTM map can be read, and they have 1 prohibited zone over Žuvintas, belonging to the protected-areas body (reason «Other»). From "not verified" to "partly, 1 zone".
  • GE — Georgia and MD — Moldova: no file, no official zone map, and the protected areas laws (read in the browser) do not regulate flying. From "not verified" to "not at all".
  • Sources to update, outcome unchanged: Croatia (AMC map verified: 44 zones, none about nature), Bulgaria (file of 23/09/2026 on uas.caa.bg), Cyprus (KMZ ver09, 141 zones), Ireland (file of 17/09/2026), totals of CZ, DE, EE, FI and LU.
  • Legal bases to add or clarify:
    • Belgium: explicit drone ban in Walloon reserves.
    • Hungary: decree 4/1998 mentions drones.
    • Spain: RD 517/2024 art. 37.2.b.
    • Poland: the rule applies to all parks, not only Kampinos. The map data contain 76 DRA-R zones over all 23 national parks, none over reserves.
  • Countries to add:
    • Latvia: yes, in the file and on the map (22 out of 409)
    • Slovenia: partly, 1 zone covering the whole Triglav
    • Slovakia: 0 out of 107
    • Liechtenstein: 0 out of 3
    • Malta: the map states nature reserves, count not verified
    • Greece: not at all on the DAGR map; law not verified
  • The count: with these corrections the countries that show protected areas in some form become 14 verified out of 39, plus Italy ("partly" in the article, to be re-verified). France remains "announced" and Malta is not counted.
    • In the file: CZ, DK, EE, DE, NO, PT, CH, IS, LV
    • Partly: AT, SI, LT (and IT, to be re-verified)
    • On the map only: PL, ES

Update of 25 September 2026

  • IT — Italy: d-flight file of 25/09/2026, downloaded with the operator login: 313 NATURE zones out of 4,647. Outcome unchanged, "partly".
  • NL — Netherlands: the Aeret map, one of the two the government points to, has the «N2000 [Basic]» layer with the Natura 2000 sites. From "not at all" to "on the map only".
  • MT — Malta: the official map returns 188 zones without a login, 14 for nature, with the ERA's permit. From "not verified" to "on the map only".
  • GR — Greece: the law is verified. Decision 21860/1422 of 2016 requires a special authorisation to fly over environmental protection areas; Samaria and Nestos ban drones except with a permit. On the map it stays "not at all".
  • RO — Romania: CAA page and OUG 57/2007 read. No national rule on overflight: each area's regulation decides. Outcome unchanged.
  • Who authorises, now with the source: Wallonia (the Government, 1973 law, art. 41), Portugal (ICNF, with the official form), France (the park director; four months of silence = refusal), Lithuania (the zone's manager), Luxembourg (no exemption for drones), Cyprus (no exemption for Lake Paralimni).
  • Legal bases added: France (Code de l'environnement, L331-4-1, from the LEGI database), Luxembourg (5 reserve regulations ban drones), Cyprus (Lake Paralimni SAC), Lithuania (aviation law, art. 18), Portugal (DL 142/2008, art. 14).
  • Correction: the Retezat regulation was attributed to "Ord. 2095/2024", a number the downloaded text does not give. Removed.
  • The count: the countries that show protected areas in some form become 17 out of 38.
    • In the file: CZ, DK, EE, DE, NO, PT, CH, IS, LV
    • Partly: AT, SI, LT, IT
    • On the map only: PL, ES, NL, MT
    • France remains "announced".

Countries still "not verified", wholly or in part

  • MT — Malta: the law, and the ERA's role on the ERA's website (403).
  • GR — Greece: the other park regulations, beyond Samaria and Nestos, not read one by one.
  • RO — Romania: the park regulations, published in the Monitorul Oficial «bis», which must be paid for.
  • PT — Portugal: the text of DL 142/2008 after the 2015 amendments.
  • BE — Wallonia: which department receives the applications for exemptions.
  • LT — Lithuania: the procedure of the Žuvintas manager (vstt.lrv.lt and saugoma.lt 403).
  • LI — Liechtenstein: whether the ordinance on landings also applies to drones (llv.li 403).
  • FR — France: the SIA's ED-269 file, behind an account.

What you may reuse

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