PRESS RELEASE
Under embargo for 00.01 Monday 3rd February 2025
Latest research shows a new National Park means big benefits
No National Park means community and environmental damage
Charities and campaigners have called on everyone who loves Galloway, South and East Ayrshire to say Yes to a new National Park ahead of the Valentine’s Day deadline[1].
NatureScot is carrying out a public consultation into proposals that could bring huge benefits for nature, communities and economy.
The advantages have been powerfully highlighted in fresh research from the Scottish Government which shows that a New National Park can bring major gains, but doing nothing (failing to create a Park) could have a seriously negative impact.
Action to Protect Rural Scotland (APRS), the Scottish Campaign for National Parks (SCNP), Galloway National Park Association (GNPA) and the John Muir Trust say the creation of Scotland’s third National Park would be a gamechanger for an area that faces major environmental, socio-economic and demographic challenges.
Kat Jones, Director of APRS said:
“This feels like a special moment for us – we have been campaigning for a new national park for Scotland for more than a decade.
“With the consultation closing on Valentine’s Day, we are asking people to show their love for a new National Park in Galloway by taking part. We are especially encouraging those who live in Dumfries and Galloway and Ayrshire to get involved, as they have the most to gain from a new National Park.”
John Mayhew, Chair of SCNP said:
“National Parks bring so many benefits, not just in recognising a special landscape, with its particular history, communities, and nature, but in the regeneration of communities and in creating a sustainable economy.
“The consultation is a chance for people to have a say on which areas should be included in the new National Park, what its powers will be, and to suggest names for the National Park, among a host of other things.”
GNPA started their campaign for a National Park in Galloway in 2017 and have carried out extensive research on the impacts of a park for the area – engaging widely with the public and local businesses.
Rob Lucas, Chair of GNPA, said:
“The research is crystal clear. A National Park will play a hugely positive role in building a positive future for our wildlife, countryside, communities, families and economy.
“But the failure to seize this opportunity risks further decline.
“We know how much people love this region. Now is the moment to show that love by filling in the NatureScot consultation, saying Yes to a new National Park, ahead of the Valentine’s Day deadline.”
The new Scottish Government Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)[2] looks at how a National Park would affect everything from health and heritage to environmental quality and climate change.
The research shows that the benefits of the national park are the most with the larger national park proposed. When they looked at the option of not having a park, there was a clear negative impact.
Two other recent reports, published by Scottish Environment LINK, lay out the benefits of a National Park for communities and for land managers.
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NOTES
[1] Responding to the consultation
Information on how to respond to the consultation can be found on the APRS website: https://aprs.scot/news/have-your-say-on-the-galloway-national-park-proposal/
[2]The report
The full report: Strategic Environmental Assessment for the future of National Parks in Scotland Addendum,The Government’s Strategic Environmental Assessment is on the Scottish Government website.
Action to Protect Rural Scotland (APRS) is Scotland’s Countryside Charity. They campaign to protect, enhance and promote Scotland’s countryside and rural landscapes for everyone’s benefit
The Scottish Campaign for National Parks (SCNP) is the national charity that campaigns to protect and promote the cause of and case for National Parks in Scotland.
Galloway National Park Association (GNPA) is a community-based group with trustees from across the region. We started work in 2017 and have over 1100 members, young supporters and business champions. You can read our objects on our website.
Key Report Summary:
Three alternatives (1, 2 and 3) relate to the different possible sizes of National Park (smaller to larger) being considered in the ongoing NatureScot public consultation. Alternative (4) is no change, that is no National Park.
The different topics are marked from – – (significant negative effects) to ++ (significant positive effects).
It shows that no National Park would be damaging. Any of the three National Park sizes would be beneficial, with the largest option (Galloway, South and East Ayrshire) would be best, achieving ++ by all measures.
