Buffer zone

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In politics and geography, a buffer zone is any area that serves the purpose of keeping two or more other areas (often, but not necessary, countries) distant from one another, for whatever reason. Common types of buffer zones are demilitarized zones and certain restrictive easement zones and greenbelts. Such zones may be, but not necessarily, be comprised by a sovereign state, forming a buffer state.

Buffer zones can be set up to prevent violence, protect the environment, protect residential and commercial zones from industrial accidents or natural disasters, keep prisoners intent on escaping from rapidly acquiring hostages or a hiding place, or possibly other reasons.

Buffer zones often result in large uninhabited regions (similar to nature reserves, although without tourism) which of themselves are somewhat unique in many increasingly paved/developed, crowded parts of the world.

The first buffer state of note is the border area of Alsace-Lorraine which was created during the Congress of Vienna (1814-15) to separate the Kingdom of France and the Germanic Confederation. Later in history, the Rhineland was demilitarized as a buffer after World War I by order of the Treaty of Versailles (1919).

See also

• Buffer state

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