NATIONAL PARKS

That this House notes the beautiful areas that make up the National Parks in the UK; recognises them as assets to the nation, which receive widespread public support and are enjoyed by millions of visitors; notes that they are home to many of the most remote rural communities and traditional industries; believes that they provide many public benefits, including as havens for wildlife, stunning scenery, cultural heritage, opportunities for promoting physical, mental and spiritual well being, a playground for learning for all ages, as exemplars in sustainable farming and rural development, as links between urban and rural communities, as stores for carbon and as places that promote solutions to the challenges of climate change; therefore welcomes the establishment of the English National Park Authorities Association and the Welsh Association of National Park Authorities as strong voices articulating the needs of the authorities; and urges the Government to demonstrate its continuing support for these special areas, the work of the National Park Authorities, as part of the wider network of protected areas.