Sustainability and Management in the UK Peak District National Park

Sustainability and Management in the UK Peak District National Park
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Peak District National Park
Introduction
Covering an area of about 555 square miles, which is approximately 1,438 square kilometers, the Peak District National Park is one of the places in England that offers a serene environment for the tourists and the locals alike. Geographically, the peak district park lies in the area between Manchester and Sheffield. There is a lot of history attached to the national park as it is the first national park that was established in the Great Britain (National Geographic 2014). It was established back in the year 1951 within the early 20th century. Much of the land in this area was owned by the wealthy landowners, who at the time had banned public access to the lands. Later on in the year 1932, there was the Kinder Mass Trespass that was held in the lands that are now the park. This event was the start of a relentless campaign to have the lands open for access to the public leading to the establishment of the parks seen today (National Geographic 2014).
The name given to the pack is derived from one of the oldest English words Peac which referred to a hill. There are no sharp peaks at the park as the name would wildly refer; most of the hills are actually rounded at the top. Kinder Scout is the highest point on the park; at around 2088 feet above the sea level (Peak District National Park Management Plan, 2014). The kinder Scout is a moorland plateau rising from the rest of the ground around it. The ownership of the park splits three ways, with more than 90% of the lands owned by the private owners while the national trusts owns around 12% and 11% going to some 11 water companies and lastly the Peak District National Park Authority owning at least 5%. Over 86% of the land is composed of farmlands, such that most of the land on the park is used for grazing cattle and sheep. Within the park in an area that almost the size of the Greater London, there lives roughly 38000 persons, while another close to 16 million people live within an hour drive to the park (Eagles & McCool, 2004).
With close reference to the features that form the park, it can be dived into three potions. The dark peak as the name suggests is covered in dark peat that is thick and there are high moors. The white peak on the other hand is characteristic of the fossilized corals, limestone on the low lands that form the rolling farms (Cooper, 2005). Then there is the south western peak that is characteristic of the moors, the pastoral valleys and woods all patched up together. Given that the lands are rich in the natural resources, it has been a crucial site since the prehistoric ages with lots of quarries. This is due to the fact that there are grit stones and millstones that could be extracted from the lands and some can even be seen scattered on the fields. The lead mines on the land also offer the tourist a splendid view, as the can take the boat rides to the caves (Cairngorms National Park Authority 2011).
Sustainability and Management
Sustainability refers to the idea of living within the limits of the available resources, making sure that these resources are utilized in manner that elevates the chances of having the same resources adequate for the future generations. As such, sustainability with reference to the development or management of the resources refers to the balance that is achieved between today and the future projections. Using resources at a higher rate that nature can replenish them is one of the key aspects that lead to unsustainable resource use (Stevens, 2002). On the other hand is the rate of polluting the environment, in which case, the pollutants alter the cycles of replenishing the resources. Management on the other hand is idea of coordinating activities in the most efficient and effective manner with the view of achieving certain set goals and objectives. Management is a separate entity from all the other business functions and this brought out by the functions of management. The functions of management include; planning, staffing, coordinating, controlling and finally organizing. Management and sustainability can both be merged to come up with sustainable management concept. The concept brings to life the aspect of environmental sustainability, the economy and the balance that should exist between the current resource use and the future generations share (Business dictionary 2014). By applying this concept from the personal level to the government level, it is possible to guarantee that the quality of life in the planet is going to be bearable now and in the future. While the concept can be practically applied in the various arms of the economy, it is much straighter forward in the areas such as the peak district national park. This is due to the fact that this is a natural heritage and most of the resources that have to be managed in the park are the natural resources, which directly relate to the environmental sustainability (Marshall and Simpson 2008).
Study One: Sustainable Transport Systems
One of the key components of the economy is that which relates to the transport systems. It is the connection that exists between the various aspects of the economy. In the national parks, it is also a vital component and controls the ability off the tourists visiting the parks and how much activities they can engage in as well as the enjoyment. Sustainable transport system in the UK parks is crucial issue and of great concern for the park authorities and the government as well as the environmental agencies. Having a sustainable transport system in the national parks hinges on to the promotional opportunities and at the same time the enjoyment and the understanding of the national parks special qualities for the public (Federation of Small Businesses 2013). The National Park Authorities have been working very hard alongside their partners, to make sure that they can secure the best investment opportunities for sustainable transport systems. Having the sustainable transport system will not only enhance what is on offer at the parks for the visitors, but will also contribute positively to the local economy and at the same time reduce the carbon emissions in the parks. Furthermore, sustainable transport system is the key to reducing the effects of congestion on the national parks, making the experience for the visitors much more appealing (Peak District National Park Authority 2014). The national parks are the getaway spots for the people living in England and beyond, and thus the parks should be nothing close to the hustle that the visitors have to deal with on the busy streets as they go about their activities during the normal working days (Peak District National Park Authority 2014).
Delivering sustainable transport system in the national parks has been at the helm of all the challenges that the parks face. Peak district national park like most of the other national parks is faced with the challenge of reducing the amount of money that goes to the transport infrastructure docket, while at the same time juggling with the aspect of optimal availability of the transport services (English National Park Authorities Association, 2011). Lack of funds to develop a sustainable system is one of the most intimidating challenges. There also the aspect of the reduction of the public transport provision in the parks that limit the sustainability of the tourism dockets. This closely ties in with the aspects of climatic changes alleviation and the economic growth in the sector (Marshall & Simpson, 2008). To ensure that the goals are brought into sight, there is need for the community, the public and the business investors to work together to ensure there is a sustainable solution to the sustainability problem. While working with the short term goals it is crucial that they all align with the long term goals. There have been efforts by the various national parks in the UK to make sure that their transport systems are as sustainable as possible (Dartmoor National Park Authority Local Development Framework 2010).
Lake District National Park came up with a sustainable transport project in 2012 which encourages the tourist to drive less and enjoy more. The entire project is composed of about nine segments all of which are funded under the local sustainable transport fund. The main aim of these projects in the transport sector is to make sure that the visitors’ way of travel around the park is transformed. Some of the major partners that are involved in the projects include the Lake District National Park Authority, Cumbria tourism and the county council of Cumbria ((Dartmoor National Park Authority Local Development Framework 2010). The park has come with more ingenious ways of making sure the visitors are enjoying the serene environment through the passenger transport, which incorporates bus services, jetties, water buses and a bike-bus service. They have also brought on board the low emission cars and the electric cars where the visitors pay as they go through the park. For the visitors that can ride bicycles through the park, there are new and redesigned tracts that encourage the visitors to see more through the rides and enjoy their stay at the park (Tisdell and Wilson, 2012: 93). This has also been enhanced further by introducing the electric bikes for hire by the visitors, so as to encourage more tourists to take the sustainable route. In an effort to make sure that the visitors not only use the sustainable transportation system in the park but also outside as they make their way to the park; the Lake District National Park has been marketing and promoting the use of trains to the park. At the same time there is a new Smartphone application that helps the visitors with the sustainable transport systems options with downloadable travel plans (Tisdell and Wilson, 2012: 93).
At the Brecon Beacons National Park, transport segment is one of the major earners but at the same time it has one of the prime impacts on the environment. As such, the park is faced with the need to reduce the amount of CO2 emissions, parking problems and the rate of congestion within the park. Coupled with the need to make sure that the park can attract more visitors brings in the idea of sustainable management (Dartmoor National Park Authority Local Development Framework, 2010). Back in the year 2001, the park introduced the use of the beacon bus system, which runs a total of 8 services from the urban areas to the park. This has an increase in the number of visitors to the park by at least 22% and the revenue to the local communities has also increased and now they rake in more than £220000 (Silcock, Rayment, Kieboom, White and Brunyee 2013). Electric cars have also been introduced as a means to make sure that the carbon emissions are reduced. Visitors transport plans are also among the initiatives that the park has been in a position to implement in a bid to cut down on the rates of congestion in the park and ensuring maximum satisfaction of the visitors (Peak District National Park Management Plan 2014).
New Forest National Park operates the open top buses, where the visitors can hop on and off in the park. The four buses on two of the main routes within the park and have greatly helped with the reduction of the traffic within the park making sure that all the visitors get to enjoy (Small Business, 2014). With the introduction of this strategy, there has been an increase in the number tour journeys to the park to around 35,000 in 2011 from 9000 back in the year 2007. Other than contributing to more than £478000 to the local economy, more than 147000 miles that would have been taken in private cars have been saved as well (Small Business, 2014).
Peak District National Park has not been far behind on the sustainable transport arrangement at the park, as they also introduced a tract called the Monsal Trail. The visitors are treated to an 8.5 miles trail that is free from all the hustles of the traffic, here the visitors can be in a position to cycle, ride or even walk leisurely without traffic snarl ups (Cairngorms National Park Authority 2011). Having received some 2.25 million extended by the department of transport, the Peak District National Park has been in a position the rehabilitate the tunnels extended to the trail. There has been some major restoration including the history of the route (Cairngorms National Park Authority 2011). Electric bikes are also part of the transport strategies, where the riders can get a chance to ride through the park. Those visitors who have horses can also take rides through the park’s splendid tracks.
Study Two: Sustainable Rural Communities
Every other national park is a home to some several thousand residents who benefit from the resources that the park has to offer. Population sustainability is quite crucial for the continuity of the parks and the environment at large. It also means that the population sustainability is one of the factors that affect the social policies that are going to be formulated at any given time. With the issue of out immigration in the rural areas, most of the population that is left behind is that of the elderly. Majority of the young population is moving out and settling in the cities where there more lavish lifestyles than the rural areas have to offer. This is a trend that affects most of the national parks and is going to have a significant effect in the future as more and more of the youths migrate to the urban areas leaving behind the elderly population in the parks. One of the key aspects that is causing the migration is that relating to the lack of affordable housing (Dartmoor National Park Authority Local Development Framework, 2010). Most of the locals are finding themselves in a hard place as the housing becomes more expensive due to the pressure exacted by the wealthier outsiders. Some of the outsiders are also having a problem securing housing due to the unsustainable housing. The housing problem has been fueled by the fact that these areas present the best environment to live in and the fact that most of the parks are guarded by strict development policies, meaning that there is not a chance that these areas are going to be as congested and polluted as most of the cities are (English National Park Authorities Association 2011). Most of the people that are moving to the cities are the youths who are poorer and looking to make a living in the cities through skilled and unskilled labor. In the rural areas most of those that are moving here, are the old and wealthier lot, who are looking for a place to settle down, with great sense of tranquility, quietness, less crowded offering opens field scenes and a subtle sense of community identity. The two main duties as stipulated in the law are; preserving the natural resources in the parks as well as promoting the social economic opportunities of the local communities. There exists tension between the recreation strategies and the conservation plans (Eagles and McCool 2004). This tension is due to the fact that the conservation strategies have to always come on top of any of the recreational social activities, which come out clearly on the issue of affordable housing. While lack of the affordable housing is causing major slack in the social and economic activities, there is also the supreme condition of conservation that requires the natural scenery to be preserved at all costs. According to the results of the study, the population in the national parks in UK is not sustainable especially considering the current birth rates, the death rates and the immigration coefficients. Of importance is the age pattern that is associated with the migration from the rural areas to the urban areas. Some of the key aspects that need to be addressed in the peak district national parks and other parks such as the Cairngorms national park are the housing affordability and the immigration problem (Hall, 2007: 56). The parks would have to be made more attractive to the younger generations who seek better employment, freedom, social services and benefits. One of the key elements that are notable about the peak national park is the fact that there are surrounding cities that seem to offer better life to the youths, than the countryside.
Study Three: Planning
Planning is one of the functions of management and without proper laid out structures and projection on the same, it can be very difficult. Sustainable management also requires adequate planning otherwise the balance in the resource use. There are quite a number of issues that were identified in the study and one of the key elements that came out was the communication barriers that exist between the businesses in the national parks and the planning officers (Eagles & McCool, 2004). The main reason is that most of the time there is not a direct line of communication between the planning officers and the owners of the various businesses that are set up in the park. Some other time the officers have also been cited as lacking interest in helping the businesses. According to the study most of the business also cited the fact that the time that is allocated to make decisions is quite little and this leads to the bounce back of the applications due to the development of errors. Most of the businesses also feel that the policies regarding planning at the national parks are currently not very clear (Cooper, 2005: 287). There has also been heightened lack of accountability especially with the national park authorities planning committees. This has been fueled by the fact that there is not adequate scrutiny of the planning officers (Marshall & Simpson, 2008).
The lack of proper communication channels between the businesses and the national parks authorities has been quite the hindrance, given that other than the fact the officers at the planning committees have adopted a closed door channel. This leads to high costs of doing business in the parks which in turn affects the level of sustainability of the tourism business and the economy in general (Cooper, 2005). The idea of planning for the natural resources at the national parks and at the sometime the economic activities that are related to these areas requires that all the parties have a mutual understanding of what is at stake. If the planning officers adopt a closed approach, this means that the businesses have to make half baked plans as to how they can develop economic activities (Centre for Rural Economy Policy and Practice 2010). It is even worse considering that the policies that are associated with the planning process are as clear to the business and the officers that are involved do not take the initiative to assist the businesses with the same. Planning is like a house of cards that means if one of the cards falls over the rest come crumbling. For the peak district national park this is quite crucial as the park is quite a large and supports so many businesses not forgetting the large population of people the reside and visit the park (Centre for Rural Economy Policy and Practice 2010).
Conclusion
Management of the social, economic and the environmental resources is quite complex. This is due to the fact that, there is always that all the stakeholders from the three sections happen to have competing interests. For the community members at the national parks, they feel that they should benefit from the natural resources as is stipulated in the law. At the same time they also want housing projects in the parks, which on the contrary would conflict with the goals of the environmental conservation as such developments could be degrading to the environment. The economic part of the natural resources also has to be maintained for the hotel and holiday homes owners to make money out of their investment.at the same time hotel and home owners do not want the parks to be over developed as it bring in all the elements associated with congested cities. These aspects underline the complexities that are involved with the policy formulation for resources that are shared among a wide array of subjects, such as the natural resources of a national park.
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