National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000
| Act of the Scottish Parliament | |
| Long title | An Act of the Scottish Parliament to make provision for National Parks. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 2000 asp 10 |
| Introduced by | Sarah Boyack[1] |
| Territorial extent | Scotland |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 9 August 2000[2] |
Status: Current legislation | |
| History of passage through the Parliament | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Text of the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk. | |
The National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000 (asp 10) is an act of the Scottish Parliament.
Background
Before the act was passed Scotland did not have any national parks.[3]
Provisions
It sets out four main aims of the national parks of Scotland. It also lays out criteria for what qualifies a park for national park status, and the process necessary to create such features. The act in itself does not establish any new national parks; it merely creates powers for the designation of national parks.
Aims of national parks
Taken from the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000:
- "to conserve and enhance the natural and cultural heritage of the area."
- "to promote sustainable use of the natural resources of the area."
- "to promote understanding and enjoyment (including enjoyment in the form of recreation) of the special qualities of the area by the public."
- "to promote sustainable economic and social development of the area's communities."
Further developments
The first national park to be designated under the act was Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park on 1 July 2002.[4]
Reception
The act received unanimous support in the Scottish Parliament.[5]
References
- ^ "National Parks (Scotland) Bill [AS INTRODUCED]" (PDF). parliament.scot. The Scottish Parliament. p. 36. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
- ^ "Session 1 Bills". parliament.scot. The Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
- ^ Wilson, Louise (17 June 2025). "What next for national parks now the Galloway plan has been scrapped?". Holyrood. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
- ^ "Legislation statement in full". 28 June 1999. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
- ^ Rennie, Alison (2006). "The importance of national parks to nation‐building: Support for the National Parks Act (2000) in the Scottish Parliament". Scottish Geographical Journal. 122 (3): 223–232. doi:10.1080/00369220618737267. ISSN 1470-2541.
External links
- The full text of National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000 at Wikisource
- Text of the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.