Scottish Parliament Debate on Scotland’s National Parks
On Tuesday 7 June Scottish Parliament held a debate on Scotland’s National Parks.
The debate was led by Lorna Slater MSP, Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity and closed by Màiri McAllan MSP, Minister for Environment and Land Reform. The Scottish Campaign for National Parks (SCNP) and the Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland (APRS) welcomed the acknowledgement by the majority of the MSPs who spoke of their unstinting efforts to campaign for more and better National Parks. The Campaign for a Scottish Borders National Park and the Galloway National Park Association were also referred to and praised by many of the MSPs.
The Parliament’s Official Report records the full debate.
SCNP and APRS are delighted that motion S6M-04799, moved by Lorna Slater MSP and amended by Colin Smyth MSP, was passed with the agreed motion, as amended, stating:
“That the Parliament recognises the key role that national parks are playing in tackling the twin biodiversity and climate crises, and the important cultural, social and economic benefits that they bring to Scotland; welcomes the announcement by the Scottish Government that at least one new national park will be designated during the current parliamentary session; understands the need for an open and transparent evaluation process to identify the areas to be progressed to national park designation; welcomes the start of stakeholder engagement to set the criteria for identifying the areas to be designated as new national parks; notes that there are over 3,500 national parks across the world; regrets that there have been just two national parks created in Scotland, the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, in 2002, and the Cairngorms National Park, in 2003, since the Parliament passed the National Parks (Scotland) Act in 2000; praises the work of the Scottish Campaign for National Parks, which identified at least seven further potential sites in 2013, as well as community groups in Galloway and the Borders, and elsewhere, which continue to demonstrate clear demand for new national parks; recognises that, in addition to the designation of new national parks, it is vital that the national scenic areas and regional parks are reinvigorated to help tackle the climate, nature and biodiversity emergencies, and believes that the Scottish Government must pave the way for the opening of a number of new national parks across Scotland”.
SCNP promotes the protection, enhancement and enjoyment of National Parks, potential National Parks and other nationally outstanding areas worthy of special protection. SCNP is a registered Scottish charity, No SC031008. www.scnp.org.uk
APRS promotes the care of all of Scotland’s rural landscapes. APRS is a registered Scottish charity, No SC016139. www.aprs.scot
