Council for National Parks
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| Council for National Parks | |
|---|---|
| UK Charity No | 295336 |
| First registered | October 5, 1986 |
| Expenditure 2003/4 | £528,089 |
The Council for National Parks (CNP) is a UK registered charity promoting the National Parks of England and Wales.
Its aims are:
- to promote the protection and conservation of national parks for the benefit of the nation,
- to promote the quiet enjoyment of national parks and the appreciation of their natural beauty by the public in an informed and understanding manner;
- to advance public education in and understanding of national parks, through the provision of education material and by other means;
- to promote and undertake research into issues effecting the conservation and enjoyment of national parks and to make public the useful results of any such research.
CNP is an umbrella body of around 40 environment and amenity groups, indirectly representing over 3 million people with an interest in National Park matters.
Recent work
In December 2006, CNP published Prosperity and Protection which looks at the economic impacts of National Parks in the Yorkshire and Humber region. The report demonstrates that National Parks bring economic benefits to businesses within and around them, as well as the region as a whole. National Park businesses in Yorkshire and Humber generate £1.8 billion in sales annually and support over 34,000 jobs. Visitors to the Parks are estimated to spend £400 million annually within the Parks and £260 million in the rest of Yorkshire and Humber.
History
70 years ago, a group of individuals and voluntary organisations met for the first time to start a campaign for the establishment of National Parks in Britain. The Standing Committee on National Parks set out an ambitious agenda, that everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy the finest countryside, and that these landscapes should be protected permanently.
Following government legislation for National Parks in 1949, the role of the Standing Committee changed. It concentrated on strengthening the powers and funding of National Parks, and being vigilant in monitoring proposals which would undermine their natural beauty and enjoyment. In 1977 it became the Council for National Parks.
Current campaigns
• Military training - CNP understands the need for military training but works to ensure that its impact on National Parks is controlled, and where possible, reduced
• Transport - working towards sustainable integrated transport throughout all National Parks in England and Wales
• Minerals - more sustainable use of the mineral resource in National Parks so that large scale quarrying is only allowed in exceptional circumstances where there is a national need and small quarries are able to provide stone for local use such to help conserve cultural heritage
• Energy - a reduction in the overall use of energy, greater energy efficiency and more renewable energy at an appropriate scale and location
