Living, Working Landscapes: Delivering Sustainable Development in National Parks
On December 7th 2011 ENPAA held a policy seminar in central London for an invited audience. The purpose of the day was to explore how National Parks in the UK currently deliver sustainable development and talk to key colleagues and partners about how this might be done in the future, with a view to delivering the 2030 Vision for England's National Parks and the Broads.
The seminar was well attended by people from a cross section of interests. Those attending included representatives from Defra, National Park Authorities, statutory agencies, voluntary organisations (including Campaign for National Parks, RSPB, CPRE and Woodland Trust) and a range of other partners including CLA, RTPI, NFU and others.
Speakers from National Parks in Scotland, Wales and England explained how the relevant legislation and policy in each nation differs. Sustainable development has long been a guiding principle for National Park Authorities (NPAs) in all three nations. A booklet of case studies from the English National Parks (available to download below) was circulated to all attending.
Keynote speaker Rebecca Willis, Independent Researcher and Adviser on sustainable development, explained how the concept can be used to guide policy making and improve communications, and suggested that National Parks should seek to be exemplars in this approach.
We also heard from Grenville Ham of The Green Valleys about a programme of work in the Brecon Beacons that has won a number of national innovation prizes, and which is inspiring people worldwide and reaching out to other communities in Wales.
In the afternoon, speakers from business, land management and academia gave their perspectives and this provided much food for thought for the workshop sessions that followed. You can download a summary report from the seminar and presentations below.
ENPAA would like to thank all those who attended or contributed to making the seminar a successful event.
Sustainable Development in England's National Parks - Case Studies
ENPAA Sustainable Development Seminar 7 Dec 2012 - Event Summary
Presentation by Murray Ferguson, Cairngorms National Park Authority
Presentation by Ruth Chambers, Campaign for National Parks
Presentation by Grenville Ham, The Green Valleys
Presentation by Rebecca Willis, Independent Researcher and Adviser
Presentation by Martin Ross, South West Water
Presentation by Terry Carroll, Centre for Rural Economy, Newcastle University
