Definition

The World Conservation Union IUCN defines a national park (under Protected Area Management Category II) as a "protected area managed mainly for ecosystem protection and recreation ".

This means that a national park must be open to the public unlike wilderness areas or strict nature reserves, for instance, that are in Protected Area Management Category I.

Protection of ecosystems includes the protection of species and the conservation of genetic diversity. The protected ecosystems in the national parks shall be preserved in their natural state and possibly not be exposed to human intervention.  However, this claim is the cause of many problems related with the establishment of national parks.  The “exclusion of human intervention” means that uses such as hunting, agriculture, forestry, fishery and certain tourist activities need to be reduced.

In addition to the two primary goals mentioned above there are four secondary goals, namely: "scientific research, education, protection of wilderness, and protection of certain natural/cultural features".  The IUCN definition of Category II - National Parks reads as follows:
Category II: National park: protected area managed mainly for ecosystem
protection and recreation – natural area of land and/or sea designated to (a) protect the ecological integrity of one or more ecosystems for present and future generations, (b) exclude exploitation or occupation inimical to the purposes of designation of the area and (c) provide a foundation for spiritual, scientific, educational, recreational and visitor opportunities, all of which must be environmentally and culturally compatible.

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• IUCN-Kriterien.PDF (PDF 239,02 kB )

11.08.2008, Lebensministerium II/4