What areas are being considered for designation as national parks in the next 10 years.

We are committed to managing and protecting Scotland’s most valuable natural assets. Section 2(2) of the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000 sets out the conditions that must apply before any area can be considered for designation as a National Park. Scotland’s first two national parks were established in 2002 and 2003.
Scottish Natural Heritage undertook a consultation exercise in 1999 which informed the Executive’s decisions on national park designations. The consultation sought views on a number of areas which might benefit from national park designation. The conclusion was that consideration of any new proposal should not take place until there had been an adequate opportunity to evaluate the experience from the first two national park designations.
Our partnership agreement gave a commitment to consult on the best strategy for protecting and enhancing all of Scotland’s coastline, including the options of establishing a national coastline park and marine national parks. That commitment was taken forward in our consultation paper Developing a Strategic Framework for Scotland’s Marine Environment (paper 2004/6 published April 2004) copies of which are available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 32159). Responses to that consultation paper are currently being considered.