UK National Parks on the world stage

29 August 2003

The spotlight will be on the UK National Parks' pioneering work on winning new audiences at the World Parks Congress (1) in Durban, South Africa in September.

The Council for National Parks (2) and Black Environment Network (3) will be highlighting the Mosaic project, which aims to introduce people from ethnic minorities to National Parks and engage them in helping to look after the Parks.

The World Parks Congress, to be opened by Nelson Mandela, is held once a decade, and 2,500 experts on National Parks and other protected areas will converge from all over the world.  Previous Congresses have had a tremendous impact in assisting national governments to create new protected areas, and direct more resources towards biodiversity and landscape conservation.

The theme of the Durban Congress is "Benefits Beyond Boundaries" which captures the idea that protected areas can benefit all society, including people living in cities.  The Council for National Parks is producing a report (4) which gives many examples of how the UK's protected landscapes provide wider benefits.

The Mosaic project (5) has been running for over two years and has introduced at least 21 ethnic community groups from urban areas to eight National Parks in England and Wales.  Group members of all ages have enjoyed a variety of experiences from quiet walks to canoeing and climbing. 

"National Parks are for everyone", said Jessica Nar, project officer for Mosaic, who will be presenting the project in Durban.  "We've been working with National Park bodies and community groups to build stronger links between rural and urban areas.  It's been very successful so far and the lessons we've learned can be extended to groups in other areas. We aim to get more people to understand what conservation means and the opportunities beautiful countryside has to offer".

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Ruth Chambers, Head of Policy on
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