DARTMOOR National Park Authority is celebrating, after the announcement that its funding from the Government is to increase by 4.2%. Defra last week announced that the DNPA will receive £4.72 million as its National Park Grant this year. The announcement also contained details of future funding for the park ? the grant is expected to increase by 2.9% in 2009/10 and 7.75% in 2010/11. Nigel Hoskin, chairman of the DNPA, said: ?I would like to thank the minister, Jonathan Shaw, for supporting the cause of national parks with his fellow ministers, in what we know has been a difficult spending round for Defra. ?This is a good announcement for Dartmoor and a tremendous fillip to the management of this internationally important landscape. ?It has been announced at an opportune time, as we are just about to launch the new management plan for Dartmoor National park and the funding will help us to tackle the significant challenges we face ? climate change, the future of upland farming, sustaining our community and providing opportunities for all people to enjoy the national park.? In addition, £200,000 has been allocated for continuing the Dartmoor sustainable development fund in each of the coming three years. This fund is used to promote and encourage a range of innovative projects that aim to turn the rhetoric of sustainable development into everyday reality. It has been used to finance a range of projects on Dartmoor ? from micro generation, school recycling and composting facilities to production of biodiesel, a car pool scheme and environmental arts.
