Conservation experts to visit Malham Cove

A group of international conservation experts will be visiting the Yorkshire Dales National Park next week during a fact-finding visit to the UK.

Representatives from the International Union for Conservation of Nature will have the chance to see Malham Cove and learn about the work of the National Park Authority (YDNPA) on Tuesday and Wednesday.

They will meet YDNPA chairman Carl Lis, Chief Executive David Butterworth and several officers and Rangers as well as David Sharrod, Director of the Authority’s sister organisation the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust.

Jon Avison, YDNPA Head of Park Management, said: “National Parks throughout the world vary from uninhabited wildernesses – for example in certain areas of Europe and the USA – to places where people live, work and enjoy themselves. Management and protection of such diverse areas present different challenges to those who look after them.

“The group will be looking at the lessons that can be learned from the interaction of nature conservation and human activity in the UK national parks, which are living and working landscapes.

”In return, we hope we will get some feedback from them so that we can benefit from their international expertise.”

The trip was organised by Natural England and is being hosted by the North York Moors National Park Authority.

The group will visit a number of national parks and other areas throughout the UK before returning to the North York Moors for a special conservation conference on 1 May in Scarborough.