Nature friendly land use

The land in National Parks is a living landscape with a mixed pattern of uses, including agriculture, forestry, sporting interests, walking paths, habitats for wild animals, woodland and peatland.

We want National Parks land to be used to tackle climate change and be nature friendly. This should also apply to the way land is managed and new developments. Any changes made should also be done in fair and accountable ways to benefit residents and visitors.

Why the contribution is important

If Scotland is to prosper, not only now but for future generations, then the way in which land is used and managed and any developments built must be sustainable.

by ScottishGovernment on May 10, 2022 at 11:57AM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.8
Based on: 20 votes

Comments

  • Posted by SueDalton May 21, 2022 at 12:17

    All uses of the land should have the long term survival of the planet at heart.

  • Posted by SCNPandAPRS May 26, 2022 at 15:16

    We agree with this and have touched upon some of the challenges in our other responses. An obvious example of such a challenge is the continuation of industrial forestry practices within National Park boundaries, whereas there could be an exemplar role in developing alternative nature friendly models of forestry and applying higher landscape standards by reducing negative impacts (eg roads, clear felling, monocultures). Within the National Parks it should be an objective to restore natural woodland processes and at the same time focus more on realising the potential for outdoor recreation. At the same time the National Parks should be liaising with forestry interests to work out how current forestry practice can be amended and improved to better contribute to a local wellbeing economy (supporting local jobs and retaining investment in the local economy).

  • Posted by MarkGibson June 01, 2022 at 15:32

    Help people re-connect with the natural environment
    Help people learn that by caring for nature we benefit ourselves and create a foundation for long-term sustainable development

  • Posted by Olliethesnail June 02, 2022 at 10:17

    Totally support this aim and really it should extend beyond national parks. Farmers and landowners need support to change their practices where needed and this should be a core part of our green economic recovery.

  • Posted by WoodlandTrustScotland June 06, 2022 at 16:15

    The Woodland Trust Scotland wants to see land in National Parks (current and future ones) used to tackle the twin climate and nature crises. This means that within the Parks native woodland expansion and ancient woodland restoration and protections should be key actions.

    Part of our aim to protect ancient woodland, we make representations on planning applications and local development plan site allocations. The Trust remains concerned that inappropriate development proposals that potentially impact ancient woodland and veteran trees continue to come forward in current National Parks. Loss of ancient woodland and veteran trees should be unacceptable across Scotland, let alone in our National Parks.

    Both in the current Parks and in any new Park there needs to be a clear policy that no loss of ancient woodland or veteran trees is acceptable. Such a policy is in line with the reason why a national park area is designated in the first place and it would prevent inappropriate planning proposals to come forward on areas that should clearly be for nature conservation such as ancient woods and veteran trees.
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