National Parks an overview
Legislation to create National parks in Scotland was passed by the Scottish Parliament in August 2000, and National parks were established in Loch Lomond and The Trossachs in 2002 and in the Cairngorms in 2003. There are no current proposals for further National Parks in Scotland at present, though some work has been progressed on the development of proposals for coastal and marine National Parks. Scottish Ministers are also committed to extending the boundary of the Cairngorms National Park to include part of Highland Perthshire
Cairngorms National Park boundary extension into Perth and Kinross
Read our Report to Ministers
Background
An introduction to Scotland's National Parks can be found here. For further information on the history and the creation of Scotland's National parks and SNH"s role in that process, see here. Other information as well as contacts and links can be found on the Scottish Executives website on National Parks.
For those interested in more information about the Parks their official websites will be of interest;
SNH’s Role
SNH played a key role in the establishment of Scotland’s National Parks, and we continue to have close involvement in the management of these areas. To facilitate this work and the development of good working relationships with the Park Authorities and other relevant bodies in Loch Lomond and The Trossachs and the Cairngorms, we have developed a policy statement. This statement sets out SNH's priorities for work concerning National Parks under three headings:
- Supporting the successful establishment and operation of National Parks;
- Promoting the care, enjoyment understanding and sustainable use of the natural heritage within National Parks; and
- championing the concept of National Parks as part of the family of designations which help to conserve and enhance Scotland's natural heritage and its enjoyment by the public.
To support our work under these three themes, we continue to commission, or to contribute to, a variety of research projects which we expect will further the development of advice and guidance on a range of matters affecting National Parks.
This work has included developing a review of the natural heritage of the Cairngorms.
