How national parks failed nature - and how to fix them

The image of huge, glorious landscapes, where wildlife runs free under the protection of the state, is far from realityEngland's national parks overseen by 'bloated', mostly white male boardsWhat do you think of when you think of a national park? Is it a wide area of glorious natural beauty, where wildlife runs free under the protection of the state? Or is it a wide area mostly farmed by private landowners, in which nature is faring worse than outside its boundaries, and largely off-limits to the public?In England, the reality is the latter, and this matters. The country is one of the most nature-depleted nations in the world, in the bottom 10% of nations for biodiversity. "Nature is in freefall in our national parks," says Dr Rose O'Neill, the chief executive of the Campaign for National Parks (CNP). Continue reading...