Holyrood to hear calls for Scotland's third national park to be created in Galloway

Campaigners have long called for the creation of more national parks in Scotland to better protect and enhance key rural and coastal areas. 

The UK boasts 15 national parks but just two – Loch Lomond and The Trossachs and the Cairngorms – are located north of the border.

The Scottish Campaign for National Parks (SCNP) and the Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland previously identified seven areas for future consideration.

These are Galloway, the Scottish Borders, the area around Ben Nevis and Glen Coe, a coastal and marine national park centred on Mull, Glen Affric, Harris and Wester Ross. 

However the Scottish Government has so far resisted such calls, insisting it has no plans to create more parks.

The Galloway National Park Association (GNPA) argues the region "possesses natural and cultural heritage resources of outstanding national importance, and a distinctive character and coherent identity". 

In a 2019 paper, it said national park status "would raise the profile of the area and contribute both directly and indirectly to its economic and social development and future prosperity".

The suggested boundary would extend from Dumfries and Galloway into South Ayrshire and East Ayrshire, with all the local councils expressing support.

GNPA chair Rob Lucas said: “A national park in Galloway would bring huge benefits to the people of our region and the whole of Scotland.

“There is a great deal of support for the idea and the contribution it could make to building a sustainable economy and improving wellbeing."

Ms Harper will bring forward a motion on the issue in Holyrood on Thursday.

She said: “The importance of our physical and mental health, particularly during the current Covid-19 pandemic, is crucial. 

"We know from numerous studies and research that one of the best ways to maintain positive health and well-being is through accessing the natural environment and through engaging in and trying new activities. 

"Galloway is very well placed to do this and there is already fantastic resources such as the UNESCO Biosphere, 7Stanes and Galloway Forest Park."

She added: “There is, as always, the possibility to further expand the potential of our area and to use it smartly to mitigate climate change, to conserve nature and to allow people access to protected space which promotes positive health and well-being. 

"To this end, I have been working with the Galloway National Park Association and this motion asks the Scottish Government to set out, in principle, its position on a national park for Galloway with the potential benefits it could bring."

Ms Harper said increasing the number of national parks would also help the Government meet its commitment to protect at least 30 per cent of Scotland’s land for nature by 2030.

Mr Lucas called on MSPs of all parties to support the motion "as a key action to help us recover from the pandemic".

Campaigners say the two existing national parks cost the Scottish Government about £13 million a year.

The SCNP argues creating more would be "a highly effective investment of public funds".

It says the US national parks "return over $10 for every $1 invested by central government in the National Park Service".

John Mayhew from the Scottish National Parks Strategy Project said: "We've been campaigning for more national parks for the last ten years, as they are just what Scotland needs to address the climate emergency, tackle the nature crisis and lead rural Scotland out of the pandemic.  

"We're therefore delighted that the Scottish Parliament will be debating this on Thursday.  

"It's particularly significant that MSPs from all five parties signed the motion, showing clear support across the Parliament. We look forward to a positive response from the Scottish Government."