Strengthen the leadership role of National Parks in tackling the climate and biodiversity crises by 2026.
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
Scotland’s two National Parks, Cairngorms National Park and Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, continue to play an active role in delivering climate and biodiversity action through peatland restoration, woodland expansion, species recovery and landscape-scale partnerships.
The Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026 strengthens the statutory framework for National Parks by updating their legal aims to include a stronger focus on biodiversity restoration, nature recovery and climate action. It also introduces new duties on public bodies to align with National Park objectives. However, the legislation is still in the early stages of implementation, and it is not yet clear how far these changes will translate into strengthened delivery, additional capacity or measurable ecological outcomes in practice.
Progress to date therefore reflects incremental strengthening of the policy framework, rather than a fully realised shift in the leadership role of National Parks.
Cairngorms National Park and Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park are key delivery areas for peatland restoration, woodland expansion and species recovery at landscape scale. The Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026 strengthens their statutory purpose, embedding biodiversity and climate objectives more clearly and improving alignment across public bodies. This increases potential for more consistent, nature-led land use. However, outcomes still depend on funding, capacity and how consistently these duties are implemented in practice. Success would be seen through measurable habitat recovery and improved connectivity, with consistent biodiversity gains across peatlands, woodlands and freshwater systems within and beyond park boundaries.
Scottish Parliament – Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026
Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026 – legislation text
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