Park litter pledge is first for UK
Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park has become one of the first in the UK to sign up to a new international commitment to reversing nature loss.
LLTNPA, along with Cairngorms National Park Authority, have officially become signatories of the Edinburgh Declaration.
The Declaration, which the Scottish Government published in August 2019, is a statement of intent outlining how subnational governments and local authorities will work together to take bold action on tackling loss of biodiversity.
The commitment demonstrates the two National Park Authorities’ ambitions around nature as leading environment bodies in Scotland. It commits to standing with other public bodies to deliver transformative actions on nature by increasing resources and building capacity for nature-based solutions, raising public awareness, working locally with partner bodies and private businesses, and aligning with national plans and strategies.
Both parks have ambitious plans for large scale expansion of native woodlands and restoring damaged peatlands, two actions that help tackle both the loss of nature and climate change.
Environment and Climate Change Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: “Tackling the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change is a national and international imperative and must be central to our green recovery from Covid-19.
“The Scottish Government recognises the key role that peatland restoration and tree planting can play in this recovery and their ability to enhance biodiversity, sequester carbon and create good, green jobs in our communities. I am pleased to see that our National Parks already have ambitious plans to increase this work.
“The Edinburgh Declaration makes it clear that, together with governments, cities and local authorities across the world, the Scottish Government and partners such as our National Park authorities are ready to meet the challenge of delivering the post2020 global biodiversity framework and play a strong role in its implementation.”
LLTNPA board agreed to sign up to the declaration and to use the commitment as a platform for building on the authority’s conservation and land management work and to create a stronger identity and common purpose for all those with a stake in nature in the National Park, through a shared ‘Futurenature’ routemap.
Convener James Stuart said: “At a time of global crises the Edinburgh Declaration provides an opportunity to step up our ambitions and our commitment to tackling global biodiversity loss.
“We will use this as a platform to build on the successes we’ve had so far through our Wild Park programme and other nature conservation initiatives, and to work on a regional scale with partners, including communities and businesses, to achieve greater outcomes for this special place and precious natural resource.”