A new National Park - or more Regional Parks

Scotland has two National Parks : Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, created in 2002, and the Cairngorms National Park, created in 2003. These dates of creation are extremely recent. The scope of objective within the parks clear, but encompassing a range of natural environment entwined with human activity.
Scotland has just three Regional Parks : Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park; Lomond Hills Regional Park and
Pentland Hills Regional Park. These are relatively small, yet practical. And their objectives are much the same as for national parks but at a localised level.
All these do not preclude national conservation policy elsewhere. The difference with designation as a national or regional park is the clarity of definition and objectives and this enables their optimum implementation.
Creation of a national park has its controversies and frequent obstructions for various reasons. Should we be putting more emphasis on creating more sustainable regional parks that can cover a greater range of environments? These can be more immediate results and perhaps, at least in some cases, form the nuclei of future national parks?

Why the contribution is important

There is an urgent need to conserve a greater range of natural environment in the face of increasing human impact and changing climate.

by JeremyHW on May 22, 2022 at 09:29AM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.0
Based on: 5 votes

Comments

  • Posted by jennys58 May 23, 2022 at 12:00

    The pressure on existing National parks is inevitable with growing populations and 'honeypot' effects. There are many less explored parts of Scotland that are bypassed by folk on their way to Trossachs and Cairngorm. As a resident of South West Scotland I seriously appreciate the 'undiscoveredness' of this area but am equally aware that spreading the load would be useful nationally. Equally, bringing other areas into National Park status should improve the development of such areas in an environmentally and holistic way with economics not being the only factor to take key role.

  • Posted by Prentice May 25, 2022 at 14:08

    Agree with Jenny above.

    Spreading National Park's across Scotland would help ensure more Scots could easily visit a Park while taking pressure off areas where National Parks are already found.

  • Posted by niallmacleod May 31, 2022 at 11:07

    Loch Awe National Park.
    Jenny I agree that more new overlooked areas need protected.
    As a community councillor I am presenting this idea to my community
    tonight at Dalavich Hall by Loch Awe.
    Loch Awe side is a more beautiful, scenic area than Loch Lomond, the longest loch in Scotland a sister park to Loch Lomond in the making!

  • Posted by NicBullivant May 31, 2022 at 11:25

    See 'A Park System for Scotland' (CCS, 1974). Country Parks were meant to be accessible to all, near where people lived and had the initial idea of being a safe introduction to the countryside, thus shielding more sensitive areas (irt Prentice). Regional Parks were recreational designations, with a similar but more dispersed purpose. We could have new NPs (the purpose of this consultation) and more new RPs - both would be helpful, and may deliver some of the benefits desired by respondents to this consultation.

  • Posted by niallmacleod June 01, 2022 at 15:13

    Loch Awe National Park proposal.

    Thats right Nic, both new Regional and National Parks should be on the table.
    Argyll and Bute Council advised me that a application for a Regional Park here at Loch Awe for example would be entered into the new Argyll and Bute Development Plan if all three community councils surrounding our loch agreed to jointly support such an application.
    After an unanimous pledge of support from our community council I am now seeking consultation with the other two community councils Glenorchy and Innishall Community Council and Dunadd Community Council.

  • Posted by croftercowrie June 05, 2022 at 23:58

    Good idea, but must have local engagement and not administered from a faraway regional council HQ.
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