Together with National Parks, National Landscapes are unique and irreplaceable national assets, each with such distinctive character and natural beauty that it is in the nation’s interest to safeguard them for present and future generations and manage them in the interests of all of us in society. They are also recognised globally as Protected Areas under the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN Category V).
The 38 National Landscapes in England and Wales cover approximately 1/8th of the land surface. They are some of the most special and cherished places in our country. Like all IUCN Category V Protected Areas, they are also living, working landscapes that contribute billions of pounds every year to the local and national economy. Although home to less than half a million people (under 2% of England’s population), over two thirds of England’s population live within half an hour’s drive of a National Landscape and around 150 million people visit the country’s National Landscapes every year, spending in excess of £2bn.
You can find out more about the North Pennines National Landscape and UNESCO Global Geopark throughout this plan and at http://www.northpennines.org.uk and National Landscapes more widely at http://www.national-landscapes.org.uk