MSc Planning Practice & Research - Affordable Housing - Essay Example

Out-migration may create a considerable multiplier effect – schools may close down for lack of enrolment, employers may have little choice over new employees, and local economies may begin to be threatened by the possible termination of local services, thus, depriving communities of access to critical provisions. Since the 1950s, Wales and England have declared between them ten locations as national parks, which comprise about ten percent of the land area in the United Kingdom (U.K.).Wales alone boasts of three national parks: the Brecon Beacons National Park (BBNP) – the site of this research study – along with the Pembrokeshire Coast and Snowdonia National Parks.

Meanwhile, similar programs have been underway in Scotland. National parks are tracts of land allocated for the protection and conservation of the natural environment. While these spaces are generally open to the public, park authorities are mandated to maintain a balance between potentially conflicting "recreational and conservation objectives" (Park, 2001, 545). In addition, The World Conservation Union (1975) or IUCN defined a national park as "a relatively large area where (a) one or several ecosystems are not materially altered by human exploitation and occupation, where plant and animal species, geomorphological sites and habitats are of special scientific, educative and recreational interest or which contain a natural landscape of great beauty (b) the highest competent authority of the country has taken steps to prevent or eliminate as soon as possible exploitation or occupation in the whole area and to enforce effectively the respect of ecological, geomorphological or aesthetic features which have led to its establishment (c) visitors are allowed to enter under special conditions, for inspirational, cultural and recreative purposes" (Park, 2001). While