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Good to see some ambition from government, pledging to increase protected land by 2030, but this needs to be much more than just drawing lines on maps. THREAD https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54320030
Since the article pictures the @lakedistrictnpa, lets focus on that as an example. Being a national park means very little in terms of nature conservation. The National Park Authority has no more staff or resources to care for the environment than any other local authority.
The 2018 state of the park report shows that only 21.6% of the Park's SSSIs and only 4% of its SSSI rivers are in favourable condition, lower than the national average. SSSI designation also doesn't really result in adequate protection. https://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/151038/SOTP-Report-2018-V6-FINAL-02.05.19.docx.pdf
There is little to distinguish between land management inside and outside of the park. Farm support is the same, there are no special conditions or restrictions to farming inside the park. Land ownership is similarly typical. https://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/caringfor/land-ownership-in-the-lake-district
This doesn't mean that there isn't lots of good stuff happening in the Lakes to help nature. @herdyshepherd1 @UllswaterCic @wildennerdale @WildHaweswater @cumbriawildlife & many others are doing brilliant things. But none of it is helped by being in a NP.
Just drawing shapes on maps and calling places protected is meaningless unless backed up by proper investment, support and policy. Let's hope the government recognises that and acts accordingly.
