Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 07 June 2022
I discussed that at a meeting with the park authorities last week. They are looking at a broad range of measures for improving capercaillie numbers, including visitor management to reduce disturbance, and they are looking at predator control.
That brings me to the crucial role that both national parks play in welcoming visitors and informing them of key messages around the climate and biodiversity twin crises, and in managing some of the negative effects of high numbers of people, particularly at popular sites. As we have emerged from the pandemic lockdowns, with travel abroad severely constrained, the people of Scotland have looked to the countryside on their doorstep for recreation. Both parks now have excellent ranger services to ensure a positive and safe experience for visitors, residents and nature in our national parks.
In the light of all that evidence of the importance of the work that the parks do, how popular they are to the millions who visit them and how enthusiastically various regions of Scotland are already campaigning to host a park, there is undoubtedly a compelling case for expanding Scotland’s national parks network. I am delighted that several areas have put themselves forward as candidates for national park status, some through long-established campaign groups, and I hope to see more join the discussion over the coming months.