THE John Muir Trust has lent its voice to calls for a new National Park in Galloway.
The organisation, which is dedicated to the conservation, protection and restoration of the UK’s wild places, looks after Ben Nevis and other precious landscapes.
Head of campaigns Thomas Widrow said: “As the nation’s charity for wild places, we stand by communities who fight to protect and celebrate the wild places they love.
“We must protect and restore natural processes to tackle the joint nature and climate crises. Designating a new National Park will help Scotland do exactly that.
“In Galloway, the community-led campaign to establish a new National Park has demonstrated incredible resilience over a sustained period of time.
“We hope the Scottish Government will nominate Galloway as the nation’s next National Park.”
Founded in 1983, the organisation is named after Scot John Muir who is known as “the father of National Parks” after coming up with the idea and working for their establishment in the USA. It works to further his aims as a conservationist and an ardent believer in the value of wild places.
Mr Widrow added: “The John Muir Trust believes wild places should benefit from a just transition that ensures communities are supported to live and work in these beautiful landscapes, in harmony with nature.
“The GNPA’s vision for a National Park aligns with the principles of a just transition in wild places – giving nature the freedom to thrive, with communities and stewards of the land at the heart of that nature restoration effort.”
Galloway National Park Association vice chair Sandra McDowall has welcomed the backing.
She said: “John Muir’s legacy is a worldwide network of National Parks that do wonderful work to protect nature and the environment.
“But while there are 15 in the UK, his Scottish homeland has just two.
“We are delighted the trust has joined the calls for a new National Park that would do so much for Galloway and Scotland, and carry forward the aims of a truly great Scot.”
The announcement follows last week’s call by Ramblers Scotland to make their voices heard in favour of the National Park proposal.
