National parks of Scotland |
After almost 60 years since the idea was first suggested, the newly devolved government of Scotland established the first national park in 2002. A second National park was established in 2003.
- Loch Lomond
and the Trossachs National Park - 2002
- Cairngorms National Park - 2003
Like the National Parks in England and Wales, neither of the Scottish parks can be
considered to be a 'true' National Park, in the sense of a wilderness area kept largely free from human development. The majority
of the land is in private ownership; more importantly, much of the land has been too heavily exploited by agricultural and
sporting interests for the landscape and ecosystem to be considered natural. Like
their English and Welsh counterparts, then, the parks in Scotland are effectively "managed landscapes".
Conservationists argue that this would not be so bad if the landscapes
had been historically managed with sympathy for indigenous flora and fauna, but like many areas of the Scottish Highlands, historical deforestation, overgrazing by sheep and
deer, and extensive 20th Century aforestation with non-native tree species, have resulted in landscapes without much integrity.
It is hoped that the new National parks will address these issues; however, concerns remain that tourism interests and developers may have more influence than conservationists in the management of the new park
areas.
See also: National
parks of England and Wales
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