A national park is a large area of land that is legally protected for its landscape, wildlife and cultural value. National parks are one of the most important ways of carrying out in situ conservation.The first national park was Yellowstone in the USA, set up in 1872. Many national parks around the world, such as those in East Africa, are largely wilderness where people do not live, and are protected by rangers who patrol against poaching.The UK has 15 national parks, including the Lake District, Dartmoor, Snowdonia (Eryri) and the Cairngorms. They are different from many parks abroad: much of the land is privately owned, and people live and farm there. In England and Wales each park has two statutory purposes:
1. to conserve and enhance natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage;
2. to promote opportunities for the public to understand and enjoy the park.A national park authority manages each park. It controls planning, so large developments such as quarries or housing estates are normally refused unless they are in the public interest. It also manages habitats, repairs footpaths, runs visitor centres, employs rangers and works with farmers to protect wildlife.National parks benefit conservation because whole ecosystems are protected at a large scale. They also support the local economy: income from tourism can pay for rangers and habitat management, and visitors learn why the environment matters.
1. to conserve and enhance natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage;
2. to promote opportunities for the public to understand and enjoy the park.A national park authority manages each park. It controls planning, so large developments such as quarries or housing estates are normally refused unless they are in the public interest. It also manages habitats, repairs footpaths, runs visitor centres, employs rangers and works with farmers to protect wildlife.National parks benefit conservation because whole ecosystems are protected at a large scale. They also support the local economy: income from tourism can pay for rangers and habitat management, and visitors learn why the environment matters.