Definition
A National Park is a large natural or near-natural protected area established to protect large-scale ecological processes, along with the complement of species and ecosystems characteristic of the area, while also providing a foundation for environmentally and culturally compatible spiritual, scientific, educational, recreational, and visitor opportunities. The category is used for places where conservation remains primary, but where public engagement is an accepted and often important secondary function. The defining balance is not unrestricted access, but carefully managed access compatible with ecosystem protection.
