Definition: National park

Category: Forestry

Protected area managed mainly for ecosystem protection and recreation. 

National parks are relatively large areas, which contain representative samples of major natural regions, features or scenery, where plant and animal species, geomorphological sites, and habitats are of special scientific, educational and recreational interest. The area is managed and developed so as to sustain recreation and educational activities on a controlled basis. The area and visitors' use are managed at a level which maintains the area in a natural or semi-natural state. http://www.fao.org/docrep/007/ae217e/ae217e00.htm