Burundi's protected areas, legally recognized (or at least in the process of being recognized), cover about 1,040 km2, or 3.7% of the total area of the country. Burundi is one of the few countries in Africa where no national park was established during the colonial era, while all forests became official reserves under Belgian colonial authority in 1933. It was not until the legislative decree of 3 March 1980, establishing national parks and nature reserves, that legislation relating to protected areas was put in place. In addition, the 1985 Forest Code provided for the creation of protected forests, forest reserves and reforestation areas.