The department shall maintain a registry of scenic or natural-scientific areas that are not in state ownership and whose owners have agreed to maintain them in a natural state, in accordance with such rules and regulations promulgated by the commissioner. Owners of such areas shall be permitted to make public the fact that the area is listed in the state registry. If the commissioner finds at any time that the owner has failed to maintain the criteria for natural areas as specified in this part, registration shall lapse.
