National Parks can deliver a better future for our nature and communities
Scotland’s National Parks are special places that are delivering for their communities and serving as a beacon for a greener and more sustainable Scotland, say the Scottish Greens.
The party’s rural affairs spokesperson, Ariane Burgess MSP, has urged all community groups to get their bids in ahead of nominations closing today.
Scotland has two National Parks, Loch Lomond & The Trossachs and Cairngorms National Park, with at least one more being created by 2026 as part of the cooperation agreement that brought the Scottish Greens into government for the first time.
Ms Burgess said: “Scotland’s National Parks are really special places. They are jewels in our nation’s crown and home to some of our most iconic landscapes and natural beauty. For 20 years they have enhanced their communities and served as a beacon for a greener and more sustainable Scotland.
“National Park status brings a number of benefits for our parks, both in terms of the resources and protections they offer to the park and the local economies and the communities who live in and around them. They can provide support for our farmers and crofters and support the transition to nature friendly farming approaches.
“We can never take our environment for granted. It wasn’t so very long ago that lots of us would have given anything to be able to experience the great outdoors. The pandemic reminded lots of us how valuable our green spaces truly are.
“Scotland is a magnificent country that deserves a proper National Park network, and today is an important step forward towards that goal.”