A CAREER which has included caring for orphaned baby monkeys in Nigeria and working with wildlife in Uganda has taken a massive new turn for Lucy Saggers, who has become the lead officer for a major new project aimed at helping businesses in the North York Moors National Park.

Lucy has joined the park authority from Earthwatch, the global conservation charity, best known for supporting scientific research projects worldwide.

She spent two years with the charity, initially in the science department then organising training for young African conservationists. Previously, Lucy spent a year in Uganda on a wildlife project based on a rainforest looking at the impact of wood logging on wildlife.

It was while working in a Nigerian national park that she become involved with a charity which retrieved monkeys whose parents had been killed for the meat trade.

"In effect, I was their mother," said Lucy. "It was an extraordinary experience but very challenging and rewarding."

Now she is heading the new Developing the Assets of Protected Areas (DAPA) scheme in the North York Moors National Park. The project will run for three years and will apply to all rural businesses, said Lucy.

"It will act as a point of contact for existing or potential enterprises to help to encourage development and the spread of new ideas and will help get them off the ground."

The scheme builds on the principles that formed the basis of the national park's moorland and River Esk regeneration programmes, she added.

"They proved that economic activity sustains good environmental management."

Jointly funded by the park authority and Yorkshire Forward, the government's regional development agency, it will aid rural businesses in the park and the Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

"We are not a business development agency but we aim to bring in specialist advisers where necessary," said Lucy.

The wide remit of DAPA will be to encourage development and spread new ideas, help new enterprises get off the ground, give small-scale grants, put complementary businesses in touch with each other and help to develop networks and links, and enable research to be carried out where necessary.

The types of businesses which could benefit under DAPA include those using local materials such as stone and timber, distinctive tourist venus focusing on niche markets such as people interested in wildlife, geology and industrial heritage tours, marketing of local produce, game marketing, parks and gardens, recycling projects, manufacturing sheep skin goods, development of river fisheries and habitats, art and photography projects, wildflower seed production and linking local producers to markets and encouraging delivery networks and retail outlets for crafts, food and drink.

"So far as farming is concerned, it is recognised that diversification is not a panacea for an unprofitable agriculture. However, it may form part of the solution to profitability for some and employ additional members of the family."

Lucy added: "There are local markets, and a potential market of 7.8m visitor days to be tapped into."

Updated: 09:42 Thursday, March 21, 2002