Section 43 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended by Section 3 of the Wildlife and Countryside [Amendment] Act 1985) requires National Parks to publish maps of land particularly important to conserve. This includes mountain, moor and heath; woodland; and cliff and foreshore. Section 3 Moor and Heath. The map shows those areas which are considered particularly important to conserve. The areas are included mainly on the basis of vegetation types but areas are also included for their natural beauty, archaeological resource or for recreational value. The conservation of the moorland is central to the National Park's fulfilment of its statutory duty to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the North York Moors.
