Cumbria it to become home for a new world-leading research centre on the sustainable development of National Parks and protected areas.
The Centre for National Parks and Protected Areas (CNPPA) will launch on Monday, September 11 at the University of Cumbria’s Ambleside campus, putting the county at the centre of the global debate around balancing the environment and economic needs of protected areas.
The University of Cumbria is the only university in the UK to have a base in a national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site, namely the Lake District, which attracts millions of visitors each year and, according to Cumbria Tourism, generated £2.72 billion to the region’s economy and 36,240 full time equivalent jobs.
Professor Ian Convery, Director of CNPPA, said this made its Ambleside campus the ideal home for a centre that is hoped will become the “go to” place for location for vision, expertise and insight in to sustainable development within thriving visitor economies.
He said: “We will need to find the balance between the economic benefits of increased tourism - bearing in mind that the park already has 18 million visitors per year – as well as promoting the culture and heritage that drew the recognition.”
Prof Convey added that his membership of the World Conservation Union Commission on Protected Areas, with its 2,400 members spanning 140 countries, would give the centre access to value research and also spark fresh studies based in Cumbria.
He said: ''This gives us access to knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.”
The official launch of the centre will include an impressive roster of international speakers including, Prof Michael Soule of the University of California, World heritage advisor Susan Denyer of the International Council on Monuments and Sites, Erwin van Maanen of the Rewilding Foundation based in the Netherlands and Owen Nevin from CQ University in Australia.
The conference will also have an open plenary session encouraging ideas and suggestions for the centre and its on-going development.
For more information about the event and to book a place visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/nature-and-culture-achieving-balance-a-challenge-for-future-generations-tickets-36858776593
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here