Scotland is getting a new national park—and it’s up to residents to nominate their top choices

Scotland is the least densely populated part of the United Kingdom, and yet it only has two national parks. Now, the government says, it’s time for a third. Where will it be? That depends, largely, on what the people of Scotland say. 

The country’s two parks, Cairngorms National Park and Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, were both established about 20 years ago. Since then, they’ve become “jewels in Scotland’s crown,” according to Biodiversity Minister Lorna Slater. The government has committed to designating “at least one” new park by 2026, when the current parliamentary session ends. This time around, instead of the process being spearheaded by elected officials at the national level, the Scottish government has opened the process to public nominations so that community groups can propose their own beloved landscapes for consideration.

“We believe that a new national park should be founded upon local community demand, which is why we are launching this unique nominations process,” Slater said in an announcement about the nomination process.

National Park status comes with financial support to tackle a wide variety of environmental issues that need urgent attention. This could include reducing carbon emissions; restoring peatland, rivers, and wetlands; supporting sustainable tourism; and encouraging nature-friendly farming, among other benefits the government listed in detail about the nomination process.

Of course, having the name “national park” permanently affixed to the name of your region can also be a huge boon for tourism. The Campaign for a Scottish Borders National Park has been seeking designation for seven years for this area just north of the English border.

“Our history and culture is carved into the landscape and built heritage, from the largest number of hilltop forts in the British Isles to the four medieval abbeys and the hidden glens which aided the escapades of Border Reivers,” Malcolm Dickson, a team member of the campaign, told the BBC. Yet, tourists mainly see it as a fly-over or drive-through destination on their way to other places.

“What we need is an instantly and internationally-recognized designation and brand,” Dickson said, describing it as a “‘once in a lifetime opportunity’” that could transform the region.” 

The nomination phase will be open until February 29, 2024, and proposals will be appraised in the spring. Groups will have to answer why their proposed area is of “outstanding national importance due to its natural heritage or the combination of its natural and cultural heritage,” among a handful of other questions. They’ll also have to prove community support and engagement from local residents—outlining any concerns or opposition—and explain why the area would benefit the whole country if designated as a national park. For example, if such a designation would lead to the development of skills and jobs, that’s a plus. 

Unlike national parks on federally-owned land like those in the United States, Canada, Australia, and many other countries, British national parks can encompass whole towns and communities. Recently, locals have debated whether designating a new national park in Wales would be a boon for the economy or a bust for cozy community culture.

The Scottish government will announce a shortlist of nominations next summer, and will later announce which new national park(s) will be confirmed.