Fight Back For Nature Must Start In National Parks

The charity for National Parks has this week urged Government to begin the fightback for nature with an ambitious agenda for England and Wales’ 13 National Parks.

Responding to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) report, the charity, Campaign for National Parks, wants to see nature restored over a much larger area in the National Parks such as the Lake District, Peak District and Snowdonia.

The 13 National Parks enjoy the highest planning protections and already do vital work for biodiversity, this makes them ideal places to focus the restoration of nature says Campaign for National Parks. However, its’ research shows these places have a long way to go to lead the fight.

Policy officer for Campaign for National Parks, Andrew Hall said:
“Given that one of the reasons we have these special places and we are able to celebrate them on their 70th anniversary, is for the protection and enjoyment of nature, the National Parks are our best bets to reverse the decline in Nature. Campaign for National Parks is determined to work across the board to make this happen.”

Research from the charity shows the state of nature in our National Parks, which were designated with a purpose of protecting nature, is not good enough. Nearly 75% of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in the English National Parks are in an ‘unfavourable condition’. This compares to 61.3% of the total SSSIs in England.

“National Parks are important for wildlife. They are home to iconic species such as red squirrels, curlew and birds of prey and the North York Moors has seen beavers reintroduced to their waterways for the first time in hundreds of years!

But we must increase our ambitions. With one million animal and plant species threatened with extinction we face an unprecedented decline in the wellbeing of our natural world. There is no place better to start than with real progress in the National Parks.” Continued Andrew.

In Raising the Bar, a report published last year, Campaign for National Parks called for improvements to National Park management plans, tailored farming payments to incentivise environmental goods and better protections for birds of prey and upland habitats.