Scottish Government: Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Mairi Gougeon on National Park proposal

Thank you, Presiding Officer.

In 2021 the Scottish Government proposed the designation of at least one new National Park in Scotland by 2026, subject to legal conditions being met. 

The proposal was debated in Parliament in June 2022 and it was strongly supported by all parties, with several Members calling for Government to designate new Parks as quickly as possible and Galloway being described by some as a ‘National Park in waiting'. 

In October 2023 we issued a public call to local communities and organisations across Scotland to put forward nominations for their area to become Scotland's next National Park. 

Detailed guidance on the nomination and appraisal process was published following a public consultation on the appraisal criteria.

Five nominations were received - from Galloway and Ayrshire, Lochaber, Loch Awe, Scottish Borders and Tay Forest. 

The nomination process demonstrated the outstanding natural and cultural heritage that we have in Scotland, as well as people's ambitions for the rural communities they live in. 

In Spring last year the five nominations were appraised by an expert panel and the Galloway and Ayrshire bid was selected to undergo further investigation.   

The proposal highlighted the area's diverse landscapes and stunning coastline, its outstanding biodiversity and its rich natural and cultural assets. 

It also made a strong case for the benefits that National Park status could bring to local communities, the local economy and the environment – demonstrating how it could achieve for nature and people.   

On the 22^nd of July last year, the Scottish Government proposed the designation of Scotland's third National Park in Galloway and South and East Ayrshire, subject to legal conditions being met. 

Reporter investigation

We were clear at that time, however, that the proposal required further investigation and consultation with local people and businesses. 

This has been crucial in order to gauge the level of support and to understand people's views on more detailed aspects including whether a National Park could best meet the needs of the area and its communities.   

NatureScot was appointed as the statutory Reporter, as specified in the National Parks legislation, to carry out this investigation, undertake a public consultation and report to the Scottish Government.

Following an initial period of engagement with local communities, public bodies and stakeholders, NatureScot ran a 14 week consultation process from 7 November 2024 until 14 February 2025.

Over five thousand surveys were completed and more than one thousand people attended events that were held across Galloway and South and East Ayrshire. 

The public events were independently facilitated by ‘Outside the Box', an organisation with expertise in running community consultation events in an impartial, open and welcoming way.  

Sector-led consultation meetings took place with representatives from the farming, forestry, tourism, renewables and conservation sectors. 

NatureScot also held meetings with the three local authorities and with community councils. 

The public interest in this proposal has proven to be huge, generating both strong support and strong opposition.  At times the debate has become quite heated. 

This is understandable given how passionately people feel about their local area and the positive changes they want to see. 

It was extremely important that everyone with an interest had an opportunity to have their say on the proposal and I would like to thank all those who took part in the discussions, got involved in the process and responded to the consultation. 

All of the views expressed have been taken into account in the Reporter's report and I have given them careful consideration.

I would also like to thank NatureScot for its work carrying out such an important and extensive public consultation process in a very robust and professional way. 

I am sure that Members will appreciate the complexity and scale of this task. 

This has also been reflected in the independent review of the consultation process by the Scottish Community Development Centre. 

Their report states that: “NatureScot's engagement on the National Park proposal achieved very impressive levels of public involvement”.  It also states that “this consultation compares very favourably with others and has demonstrated elements of very good practice in the use of the National Standards in Scotland”.   

Consultation results

In its role as the Reporter, NatureScot has analysed the findings of the consultation and provided advice and recommendations to the Scottish Government. 

These have been set out in a report which has today been laid before Parliament and published on the Scottish Government's website.

The report sets out that, of those who engaged with the consultation, 54% of responses opposed the National Park proposal and 42% of responses supported it. 

The majority of consultation responses were completed by people living and working in Galloway and Ayrshire. 

Taking account of local responses alone, 57% opposed the proposal while 40% were supportive. 

It notes that support was greatest among environment, recreation and tourism sectors, whilst landowners, land managers and those working in the farming, forestry and renewable energy sectors had the strongest reservations.

Based on the evidence gathered during the investigation and consultation, the Reporter has advised that, whilst it considers that the proposed area meets the conditions for a National Park set out in the legislation, the proposal does not have sufficient clarity, nor has it garnered sufficient local support to proceed to the next stage of designation. 

Listening and responding to local communities

I want to put on record my thanks to everyone who has been involved in this process.  We have listened to the people of Galloway and Ayrshire. 

We have noted the views expressed by communities, organisations and businesses.  We have carefully considered the advice and recommendations of the Reporter. 

We have weighed up the arguments for and against the creation of a new National Park in the area, taking full account of the potential economic, social and environmental factors, and we have come to the conclusion not to proceed with the designation of a National Park in Galloway and Ayrshire.

I realise that this decision will be very disappointing for those who have been campaigning for a new National Park in Galloway over many years. 

I also recognise the huge amount of work and time that has been invested by a great many people throughout this process. 

I would like to thank everyone involved in that process, including members of the Galloway National Park Association and the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere.

The Galloway and Ayrshire proposal has generated a lot of debate about the role and value of National Parks in Scotland more generally. 

Again, I am grateful to all those who have put forward their views and perspectives on this during the consultation process and this government has listened carefully to all views expressed. 

Whilst we have decided not to proceed with the designation of a new National Park in Galloway and Ayrshire in light of the consultation findings and the Reporter's conclusions, I want to stress that this Government remains committed to National Parks in Scotland and their vital leadership role in tackling the climate and biodiversity crises, promoting sustainable land management and supporting the economic and social development of local communities.

There is plenty of evidence to show that our National Parks are achieving for people and nature.

In Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, the National Park authority is working proactively with a wide range of public, private and third sector partners to reduce carbon emissions, restore peatland, protect and restore precious wildlife and habitats, generate investment and jobs in the local area and manage more than four million visitors to the Park each year.  

This is also true in Cairngorms, where the National Park authority is at the forefront of the ambitious Cairngorms 2030 partnership programme which will see over £40 million invested in the Park area over five years to restore and enhance nature, reduce flood risk, support regenerative farming, improve active and sustainable transport, empower local communities and improve people's health and wellbeing.

We will continue to strongly support our existing National Parks and we remain open to proposals for new National Parks in the future.

 Next steps

As we set out in our most recent Programme for Government, this is a government that listens and brings people together, because the most effective solutions emerge when we work together in partnership.

We fully recognise and appreciate that the consultation period has been a challenging time for local communities.

It has also raised some really important issues that people in Galloway and Ayrshire care deeply about – from roads, affordable housing and health services to business investment, environmental protection and opportunities for young people.  

What is important going forward is that we take note of the issues, concerns and opportunities that have been raised during the consultation process and that we place a renewed focus on delivering for the people of southwest Scotland.  

There are very strong foundations to build upon, given the area's importance for sustainable and regenerative farming and forestry, renewable energy and other land-based activity.

There are also strong regional partnerships and structures in place, including the regional land use partnership and framework, the UNESCO biosphere, the natural capital innovation zone and the responsible tourism strategy, all of which are supported by the region's economic partnership and South of Scotland Enterprise.

In its role as Reporter, NatureScot has put forward some recommendations for ways in which these existing structures and arrangements could be further strengthened.

SoSE has also suggested that there could be benefits in exploring an alternative approach drawing on the unique assets and existing structures in the South of Scotland.  

We are grateful for these suggestions and we will reflect on them. We now need to take the time to reflect and give these suggestions deeper consideration.

And in the meantime, the Scottish Government remains firmly committed to working in partnership with local communities and organisations across the southwest of Scotland to reduce carbon emissions, enhance and restore nature, bring forward investment and deliver growth and jobs that enable the area and its people to flourish.