The most important thing that the NPA has to do is to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of Exmoor. This includes looking after landscapes and buildings as well as plants and animals. (Click here for information on erosion (PDF, 1.5Mb))
Conservation doesn't mean preserving Exmoor as if it were a museum and never changing anything. Some things may need improving!
Exmoor is a place where people live, work and enjoy themselves. Naturally things change. For example:
villages have grown - new houses have been built.
farming techniques have developed and farmers can use more machines, fertilisers and pesticides.
the motor car has encouraged more visitors to come to Exmoor.
Changes like these can alter habitats and disturb the animals and plants that live and grow in them.
The otter became rare because of river pollution and because the river banks were cleared of bushes and undergrowth.
Primroses became scarce on hedge banks because pesticides were used to control growth and also because people picked the flowers or dug up the plants.
Large areas beside beauty spots have been cleared of vegetation because so many cars pull in to park.
It is the role of the NPA to try to balance the needs of the farmers and visitors with those of the moor itself.
National Parks were chosen originally for their scenery, not their wildlife, but since they were created many habitats have been lost in the rest of the countryside, making the Parks more important for wildlife.
In 1949, when the Government passed a law making it possible for National Parks to be created in England and Wales, they also set up the Nature Conservancy Council which could create National Nature Reserves and SSSIs. The Council is now split between English Nature and the Countryside Council for Wales. The Exmoor National Park Authority works with English Nature to protect wildlife.
There is one National Nature Reserve on Exmoor and Braunton Burrows and Bridgwater Bay are nearby. In the Park there are other reserves run by Somerset Wildlife Trust and Exmoor Natural History Society. The NPA works with these and many other organisations such as the National Trust to protect habitats and species, make surveys and keep records and watch for pollution and other problems.