Proposal for a National Park in Southwest Scotland: report

Executive summary

In July 2024, NatureScot was requested by Scottish Ministers under Section 3 of the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000 to undertake the reporting on its proposal for a Galloway National Park. This report presents the findings of this work and the conclusions we have reached as Reporter on the proposal. To ensure clarity between our roles, we have presented our advice as natural heritage advisor in a separate letter.

Consultation outcomes

This consultation has been one of the largest and most challenging NatureScot has undertaken. We have made every effort to raise awareness of the proposal and to provide everyone with an interest in it with opportunities to express their views. It has followed good practice in public consultation and has sought to be as inclusive, participatory and equality focused as possible in the time frame available. As well as the consultation survey itself, the range of engagement activity has included an online information hub and leaflets distributed to 52,000 addresses, as well as meetings and events with local communities, interest groups, businesses, landowners and land managers.

The key themes from the consultation in support of the National Park proposal were based around the enhanced action it would deliver to protect and restore the natural and cultural heritage of the area; the range of economic and social benefits it could bring; the stronger local voice it would provide in decision making; and the positive recognition it would bring to this part of Scotland.

In contrast, the arguments made against the proposed National Park were based on the potential negative economic impact of National Park status on the farming, forestry and renewable sectors; fears of overtourism; the impact on local infrastructure and services; and concerns over the appropriateness of a National Park solution for the area.

The principle of a National Park and alternatives to it

As Reporter, our assessment and our analysis of the issues and of the range of views expressed during the consultation suggests that the proposal has not garnered sufficient support locally to proceed.

Our recommendation as Reporter is therefore not to proceed with the designation but instead to strengthen a range of existing arrangements, including a better resourced and more influential Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Reserve, a renewed focus on people and nature alongside commercial forestry operations in the Galloway Forest Park and a new commitment to the implementation of management strategies for the three National Scenic Areas.

The arrangements for the proposed National Park

As part of our reporting role, we were also asked to develop the detailed arrangements for the National Park for consideration by Scottish Ministers if they did decide to go ahead with preparing and consulting on a draft designation order to establish the National Park. This includes the following issues which we detail in Section 4 of the report:

• Area of the National Park
• Powers and functions of the National Park Authority
• Governance of the National Park Authority
• Name of the National Park.