National parks - challenge exercise: summary analysis
Summary analysis of contributions made to the 'Future for National Parks in Scotland' challenge exercise, May to June 2022, on our public dialogue platform www.ideas.gov.scot.
2. Summary of Public Engagement with Dialogue
The Scottish Government's dialogue platform allows users to submit 'ideas' to generate discussion, and to rate and comment on ideas submitted by other users.
Ideas and comments are moderated, and any which are off topic or which do not follow the site's moderation policy (e.g. duplication, profanity/hate speech, personal attacks or spamming) are rejected. Additionally, ideas which are deemed to be too similar to other ideas already submitted, may be locked from further rating and commenting, in order to focus the conversation in one place.
For the most part, the National Parks challenge was pre-moderated, meaning ideas and comments would not be viewable to the public until they had been approved by a moderator. However, during some periods such as the public holiday weekends in late May and early June, the challenge was set to post-moderation in order to keep the conversation flowing while Scottish Government moderators were unavailable at these times.
Engagement Levels
Table 1 provides some summary figures on public engagement with this challenge.
| No. of Contributors |
No. of Ideas |
No. of Comments |
No. of Ratings |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before |
After |
Before |
After |
Before |
After |
Before |
After |
| 82 |
79 |
106 |
102 |
481 |
476 |
716 |
714 |
During moderation, four ideas were rejected – two for being off-topic, one because it was a duplicate of another idea already posted and one due to an error in the title (which was later resubmitted as a new idea, with a corrected title).
Five comments were rejected. All of these were due to duplication, likely as a result of users accidentally double posting their comment.
For the purpose of this analysis, rejected ideas and comments have been excluded.
Most engaged-with and most popular ideas
Tables 2 shows the ideas which generated the most comments from users.
| Idea Title |
Summary |
No. of Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Criteria for a new National Park |
Conversation starter posted by Scottish Government to seek views on the criteria for areas under consideration for a new National Park location |
40 |
| Protecting and restoring biodiversity |
Conversation starter posted by Scottish Government to seek views on how National Parks can help to protect and restore nature |
22 |
| Galloway |
Conversation about the potential of Galloway as a new National Park - due to accessibility, variety of natural habitat/beautiful landscapes and existing 'dark sky' designation. |
19 |
| Scottish Borders should be a National Park |
Conversation about the potential of Scottish Borders as a new National Park due to excellent transport links, landscapes and built heritage. Designation would help to enhance tourism and revive traditional industries. |
15 |
| Sustainable tourism and managing visitors |
Conversation starter posted by Scottish Government to seek views on how to ensure everyone can continue to enjoy National Parks without a negative impact on nature and the visitor experience. |
15 |
Table 3 summarises the user-generated ideas which received the most votes with an average rating between 4 and 5 (out of 5).
| Idea Title |
Summary |
No. of Votes |
Average Rating (out of 5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| End Driven Grouse Shooting |
Driven grouse shooting should be banned in National Parks and throughout Scotland |
19 |
4.63 |
| Maritime / Coastal National Park on Scotland's West Coast |
Create new National Park of maritime and coastal area around Scotland's West Coast and the Islands served by Calmac ferry network. |
17 |
4.47 |
| Any park must restore the ecosystem |
New National Park should restore the ecosystem as the Borders Forest Trust have done. Needs to be accessible by public transport, keep out cars, no grazing, bring back nature, forests, reintroduce species, be novel and include people. Repopulate Highlands and allow people to live there in harmony with nature. |
17 |
4.82 |
| Pristine wilderness |
Scotland would benefit from having a "pristine wilderness" National Park as in Canada, where no vehicular access is permitted (foot, horseback or canoe only) |
15 |
4.20 |
| Accessible to all, by public transport |
Crucial that new park is accessible to people with reduced mobility and should feature facilities/ experiences for visitors with conditions which might exclude them from other visitor attractions. |
15 |
4.53 |
| Scottish Borders should be a National Park |
Scottish Borders has excellent transport links, landscapes and built heritage. Designation would help to enhance tourism and revive traditional industries. |
15 |
4.27 |
| Ranger service |
Ensure there is a ranger service with funding to manage visitor pressure in the park. |
15 |
5.00 |
For the purpose of this report, we have grouped the ideas submitted to the Dialogue platform into key themes. Table 4 gives an overview of the ideas submitted under each theme, and how much engagement they generated.
| Theme |
No. of Ideas |
No. of Comments |
No. of Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Location suggestions, criteria and type of park |
45 |
222 |
274 |
| Protecting and restoring nature |
8 |
43 |
96 |
| Governance, Corporate Structure and Roles for National Parks |
10 |
35 |
35 |
| Sustainable Tourism, Visitor Management, Travel and Accessibility |
12 |
54 |
103 |
| Local economy and impact on residents/local communities |
8 |
29 |
46 |
| Land use |
4 |
14 |
51 |
| Climate change / Renewable Energy |
8 |
43 |
59 |
| Alternative Designations / Opposition to new National Park |
7 |
36 |
50 |
| Total |
102 |
476 |
714 |
Tables 5-12 summarise the ideas contributed under each of these themes. A more detailed breakdown of each of these ideas and associated comments is provided in Section 3 of this paper. The term 'National Parks' has been abbreviated to 'NP' in tables 5-12.
Location, criteria and types of park
This theme saw the highest level of engagement, accounting for almost half of the 102 ideas submitted.
| Idea Summary |
Comments |
Ratings |
Average Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suggestions/views on new National Park location |
|||
| New NP location suggestion - Galloway |
19 |
17 |
3.99 |
| New NP location suggestion - Scottish Borders |
15 |
15 |
4.27 |
| New National Parks need local support - Galloway has this and a new NP would bring much needed investment and jobs |
14 |
12 |
4.00 |
| New NP location suggestion - Southern Uplands - from Galloway to Cheviots |
12 |
4 |
4.25 |
| New NP location suggestion - all of Scotland |
8 |
14 |
3.29 |
| New NP location suggestion - Flow Country |
6 |
8 |
3.25 |
| New NP location suggestion - Borders and Galloway as combined NP |
6 |
4 |
3.25 |
| New NP location suggestion - Scottish Borders, with links to Northumberland NP in England |
6 |
2 |
2.00 |
| Conditions in the Act set the criteria for new Parks. Some areas in Dialogue wouldn't make the standard, but Glencoe/Lochaber does |
6 |
1 |
5.00 |
| New NP location suggestion - Maritime Park covering Scotland's west coast and islands |
5 |
17 |
4.47 |
| New NP location suggestion - all of Scotland's shoreline |
5 |
14 |
4.29 |
| Encompass Scottish Borders and Galloway in single Park with one Authority |
5 |
2 |
2.50 |
| New NP Location Suggestion - Fife |
4 |
8 |
3.50 |
| New NP location suggestion - Pentlands |
3 |
9 |
4.11 |
| Proposal to invite Scotland's 8 cities to apply for national park city status |
3 |
8 |
3.50 |
| NP as a catalyst to land reform in the Glen Affric area |
3 |
5 |
4.80 |
| Connect Loch Lomond & Trossachs NP to Cairngorms NP to create a meaningful area for nature restoration |
3 |
5 |
3.40 |
| New NP location suggestion - urban park in Glasgow, joining up existing parks |
3 |
4 |
4.00 |
| An intrinsic part of a South of Scotland National Park should be a well-designed and managed theme park. |
2 |
6 |
2.00 |
| Look after Scotland as if whole country was a National Park |
2 |
6 |
4.33 |
| New NP location suggestion - Lochaber |
2 |
5 |
3.40 |
| Opportunity to have a different type of NP in Scotland in Glen Affric |
2 |
1 |
5.00 |
| New NP Location Suggestion - Glen Affric |
2 |
0 |
N/A |
| Link both highland and lowland Perthshire to re-establish ecological connectivity |
2 |
0 |
N/A |
| New NP Location Suggestion - Outer Hebrides |
1 |
9 |
4.44 |
| New NP location suggestion - Highlands from Cairngorms to west Coast north of Oban |
1 |
9 |
3.44 |
| New NP location suggestion - Carron Valley |
1 |
4 |
2.75 |
| New NP location suggestion - central Scotland between M8 and M9 |
1 |
3 |
2.00 |
| NP for Glen Affric could boost economy, improve wildlife, improve housing and improvement management |
1 |
0 |
N/A |
| Use National Park status to regenerate one of Scotlands largest brownfield sites |
1 |
0 |
N/A |
| New NP location suggestion - Highland Perthshire between Lomond and Cairngorms |
0 |
6 |
4.17 |
| New NP location suggestion - East Neuk and Landward Fife |
0 |
5 |
3.20 |
| New NP Location Suggestion - Ochil Hills (Clackmannanshire) |
0 |
2 |
1.50 |
| New NP location suggestion - area of North Coast 500 |
0 |
0 |
N/A |
| Sub-total |
150 |
209 |
|
| Type of National Park |
|||
| Make a 'pristine wilderness' NP like in Canada - no vehicles allowed |
8 |
15 |
4.20 |
| There should be a marine NP out to 12 nautical miles, to benefit coastal communities and the coastal/marine environment |
3 |
12 |
4.75 |
| Establish 3 Parks, one wilderness, one nature restoration & visitor management, one focused on deer management, then compare after 50 years |
1 |
0 |
N/A |
| Sub-total |
12 |
27 |
|
| Criteria for / value of National Parks |
|||
| Ideas on criteria for assessment of NP locations |
40 |
21 |
4.76 |
| Look to international experience of National Park. |
5 |
8 |
4.63 |
| National Parks to mirror Buglife Important Invertebrate areas to ensure protection and improvement of invertebrates |
4 |
6 |
4.83 |
| What do people value most about NPs |
8 |
2 |
2.50 |
| Learn from the experience of Ireland in designing new National Park |
1 |
1 |
1.00 |
| New NP must be based around strong natural capital criteria |
2 |
0 |
N/A |
| Detailed views from D&G Council on original 4 'ideas' posted by SG |
0 |
0 |
N/A |
| Sub-total |
60 |
38 |
|
| Total |
222 |
274 |
|
Protecting and Restoring Nature
| Idea Summary |
Comments |
Ratings |
Average Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ideas on how NPs can protect and restore nature |
24 |
44 |
4.86 |
| New park should restore the ecosystem and be accessible by foot and public transport |
3 |
17 |
4.82 |
| Prioritise biodiversity over tourism/money |
5 |
14 |
4.36 |
| Extra rights/protection for wildlife through NPs |
6 |
13 |
4.31 |
| Focus of new NP should be restoring biodiversity and ecosystem services |
1 |
3 |
5.00 |
| Series of suggestions for making NPs as natural/free from human impact as possible |
2 |
2 |
4.00 |
| Book recommendation - focus on birds/other wildlife, wildlife corridors, running of National Parks |
2 |
2 |
3.00 |
| Reality is that existing NPs fail to conserve natural heritage by allowing/approving development in e.g. ancient woodland or flower/fungi rich meadows |
0 |
1 |
5.00 |
| Total |
43 |
96 |
Governance, Corporate Structure and Roles for National Parks
| Idea Summary |
Comments |
Ratings |
Average Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ideas on changes to statutory roles for NPs |
14 |
11 |
3.73 |
| Create a single National Park Service for Scotland, as in US/Canada |
8 |
11 |
4.45 |
| One Chief Exec covering all NPs with deputy CEO for each park |
5 |
4 |
1.50 |
| NP Boards should be locally elected without personal commercial interests represented |
3 |
2 |
3.50 |
| Suggestion for European approach - wider body overseeing all parks and other similar designations across Scotland |
2 |
0 |
N/A |
| Gaelic language and culture should be enshrined in any new NP |
1 |
4 |
4.75 |
| Access to volunteering opportunities should be a core requirement of NPs |
1 |
3 |
2.67 |
| NP authority should be made sole, or principal, management authority in the area with full planning or 'call in' authority |
1 |
0 |
N/A |
| Set up National Board supplemented by local boards |
0 |
0 |
N/A |
| One Director of Corporate Services covering all NPs |
0 |
0 |
N/A |
| Total |
35 |
35 |
Sustainable Tourism, Visitor Management, Travel and Accessibility
| Idea Summary |
Comments |
Ratings |
Average Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sustainable Tourism / Visitor Management |
|||
| Ideas on sustainable tourism in NPs |
15 |
20 |
4.55 |
| NPs needed to manage visitors and visitor infrastructure |
4 |
15 |
5.00 |
| NP will bring an increase in visitors and pressures on housing which has to be properly managed |
7 |
9 |
4.89 |
| Sharing paper which brings together different and practical approaches into one readable and helpful publication. |
4 |
8 |
4.25 |
| New NP should be exemplar of sustainable tourism and management of protected areas |
0 |
6 |
4.83 |
| Better infrastructure required to support visitors |
3 |
4 |
5.00 |
| Needs to be a balance in NPs between needs of nature and those of humans |
1 |
2 |
5.00 |
| Provide cabins/bothies for visitors |
0 |
0 |
N/A |
| Sub-total |
34 |
64 |
|
| Travel / Accessibility |
|||
| New NP should be easily accessible by public transport and for those with mobility issues |
9 |
15 |
4.53 |
| Improved path networks can improve physical and mental health |
5 |
10 |
4.00 |
| New NP needs to support wider policies, including active travel, climate change etc. |
2 |
9 |
4.44 |
| Bike accessibility key consideration for existing Parks and criteria for new Parks |
4 |
5 |
4.20 |
| Sub-total |
20 |
39 |
|
| Total |
54 |
103 |
|
Local economy and impact on residents/local communities
| Idea Summary |
Comments |
Ratings |
Average Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Uplands is a working landscape which should not be over-burdened by increased regulation should it be designated a new NP |
8 |
4 |
2.75 |
| Important to consider the needs of people who live in NPs |
5 |
12 |
4.50 |
| Local employment in agriculture and forestry is key, without unrealistic regulation |
4 |
11 |
3.82 |
| Use NPs to promote rural 'indigenous' cultures and groups in Scotland |
4 |
11 |
4.00 |
| New NPs should restrict building of 2nd homes and retrospectively consider previous applications. |
4 |
5 |
4.80 |
| Encourage small businesses, allied to tourism industry |
2 |
0 |
N/A |
| New NP should be used to encourage repopulation of the islands to help deliver the goals |
1 |
2 |
3.00 |
| All rivers should be free to fish |
1 |
1 |
1.00 |
| Total |
29 |
46 |
Land use
| Summary |
Comments |
Ratings |
Average Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inviting views on land management in NPs |
5 |
20 |
4.80 |
| Calling for end to driven grouse shooting in NPs and throughout Scotland. Rewilding can maintain rural jobs |
5 |
19 |
4.63 |
| Crofting should play a strong role, in terms of expansion across NPs, especially in woodland |
4 |
12 |
4.17 |
| NP could turn round negative aspects of land use and development to enhance biodiversity. |
0 |
0 |
N/A |
| Total |
14 |
51 |
Climate Change / Renewable Energy
| Summary |
Comments |
Ratings |
Average Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| How National Parks can help tackle climate change and deal with its effects |
13 |
35 |
4.83 |
| Need to balance Net Zero and environmental improvement - target National Scenic Areas for new NP |
8 |
3 |
4.33 |
| Consider infrastructure to deliver Net Zero when deciding area for new NPs |
7 |
1 |
1.00 |
| New NP should not be sited in areas where it will bring about conflict with planning policies |
6 |
5 |
3.40 |
| Local economy benefits and environmentally friendly schemes that reduce carbon consumption without creating an industrial landscape |
4 |
7 |
4.29 |
| Key consideration about whether current policy prohibiting windfarms in NPs would apply to new park, if this would hinder Scotland's climate goal and if existing windfarms in new NP area would be left or removed |
4 |
3 |
4.33 |
| NP should encompass areas bought for carbon-offset and green investment to safeguard their future |
1 |
4 |
4.75 |
| Ambition to create new NPs does not align with net zero targets, which require creation of new renewable energy sites that are not allowed within NPs |
0 |
1 |
5.00 |
| Total |
43 |
59 |
Alternative Designations / Opposition to new National Park
| Summary |
Comments |
Ratings |
Average Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benefits of UNESCO designations (biospheres and geoparks) over NPs |
8 |
13 |
4.15 |
| Geology and geodiversity are fundamental aspects often overlooked. Why not better support existing geoparks instead of creating a new NP |
7 |
7 |
4.86 |
| Rather than creating another NP, why not designate more Regional Parks? |
6 |
5 |
4.00 |
| National Park tourism affects environment. Wilderness areas solely for conservation as defined by IUCN would be preferable. |
5 |
12 |
3.67 |
| No more National Parks - NPs are expensive, create additional bureaucracy and are proven to be bad for biodiversity |
5 |
6 |
3.00 |
| Rather than create new NPs, properly fund the existing Regional Parks |
3 |
4 |
5.00 |
| Alternative to NP - Geopark |
2 |
3 |
4.67 |
| Total |
36 |
50 |
Contact
Email: biodiversity@gov.scot
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