Designate at least one new National Park within the current parliamentary term subject to the outcome of the reporter investigation and public consultation.
Objective 2: Protect nature on land and at sea, across and beyond Protected Areas
Priority Action 9. Strengthen the role of National Parks and ensure they act as exemplars of biodiversity protection and recovery
The Scottish Government initiated a formal process to designate a new National Park during the previous parliamentary term, including public consultation, appraisal and a reporter-led investigation into potential locations.
In July 2024, Galloway was identified as the preferred location for a proposed new National Park. However, in May 2025 Scottish Ministers announced that they would not proceed with designation following the Reporter’s findings and evidence of significant local opposition.
As of May 2026, no new National Park has been designated and no alternative proposal has yet been brought forward under the new Parliament. The original commitment to designate at least one new National Park by 2026 has therefore not been achieved.
National Parks are designated to conserve and enhance natural heritage, including habitats, species and landscape-scale ecological processes, and to support nature recovery through integrated land management and planning frameworks. National Park status can strengthen biodiversity outcomes by enabling coordinated management across land uses, improving habitat connectivity, and supporting long-term landscape-scale conservation. Evidence from the Galloway National Park proposal process highlighted that designation could contribute to habitat restoration and nature recovery at scale, but outcomes depend on final designation and implementation of management objectives.
Scottish Government – Galloway proposed as new National Park
Scottish Government – Decision not to proceed with Galloway National Park
NatureScot – Galloway National Park consultation
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