The Environment

The UK’s national parks should not be considered “protected areas” unless the way they look after wildlife radically improves, according to a new report.

Internationally, the UK is leading calls to protect 30% of land and sea by 2030 (the “30x30” target), but is failing to protect its own wildlife, says a report by the British Ecological Society (BES).

Protected areas such as national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONBs) make up 28% of UK land, but only about 5% is effectively protected. The report recommends that they should not be included in the UK’s total in their current state.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/apr/22/uk-national-parks-deliver-negligible-benefits-for-wildlife-aoe