New legislation and guidance will give National Parks and National Landscapes a clear mandate to widen public access to nature.
The changes will see more trees planted, more peat restored and more habitat created, supporting Protected Landscapes to play a leading role in meeting Net Zero and Environment Act targets and the commitment to protect 30 per cent of land for nature by 2030 as part of the UK Government’s Plan for Change.
National Parks and Landscapes cover a quarter of England’s land area, so improving the state of nature here is vital to the health of ecosystems. England’s Protected Landscapes are home to nationally important habitats and our most iconic species – yet many are in a poor condition with the wildlife that lives within their boundaries in steep decline and the waterways that give many of these landscapes their magic now sadly polluted.
The proposed measures will include a general power of competence for National Park Authorities, which will clarify their legal framework, removing restrictions which prevent an entrepreneurial approach, and aim to cut through bureaucracy to remove barriers to achieving more for people and nature.
The package will also strengthen the role that public bodies, including water companies, must play in delivering better outcomes for nature, water, climate and access to nature in these special places. New regulation will support public bodies and Protected Landscape organisations to work more closely together.
Refining the purpose and powers of National Parks and National Landscapes will help to promote access to nature for the millions of people who visit these iconic landscapes each year, helping them to support a thriving rural economy and enabling people to reap the benefits of spending time in nature.
Environment Secretary Steve Reed said, “It’s seventy-five years since our National Parks and National Landscapes were created, and they have done incredible work protecting some of our most treasured and beautiful landscapes.
“But so much of our countryside and wildlife is in decline so we must do more to protect it. To mark this anniversary the government will introduce new laws to boost protections for the natural world, strengthen our National Parks and National Landscapes and increase opportunities for millions of people to enjoy the great outdoors.”
With less than 40 per cent of rivers in National Parks in good ecological status, the government will also develop new regulations to ensure public bodies operating in these areas deliver better environmental outcomes. As an immediate step, new guidance is being published today that will help public bodies work together to make these special places greener, wilder and more accessible.
Natural England Chair Tony Juniper said, “The 1949 National Parks Act laid the foundations for modern nature conservation, enshrining in law the means to protect dozens of exceptional landscapes and thousands of our best wild places while bringing joy to millions of people across multiple generations.
“Despite the achievements, however, these legal protections have not been sufficient to prevent Nature’s continuing decline. And whereas in decades past the challenge was about conservation, today we must not only hang on to what is left, but to also invest in Nature’s recovery.
“The reforms announced today are important steps that can help to turn the tide.”