Cairngorms National Park Partnership Plan 2022-27

Plana Com-pàirteachais Pàirc
Nàiseanta a’ Mhonaidh Ruaidh 2022-27

About

About the plan

The nature and climate crises require leadership and action and this National Park Partnership Plan does both for the largest national park in the UK. We have experienced significant changes since the last partnership plan was published in 2017 and it was heartening to see nearly 1,500 people take part in the consultation on the future of this special place.

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Image of Osprey (Pandion haliaeetus) female on nest. Photo by Peter Cairns.
Image of Dr Helen Taylor, from the RZSS Conservation Programme, preparing to release a larva into the wild. Photo by RZSS.

Three main themes:

Image of butterfly.

Nature

A carbon negative and biodiversity rich National Park with better functioning, better connected and more resilient ecosystems.

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Image of family foraging walk in Anagach Woods as part of the Cairngorms Nature BIG Weekend 2022. Photo by Rachel Keenan.

People

A wellbeing economy that works for all the people of the Cairngorms.

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Image of people walking on Aviemore High Street. Photo by Mark Craig.

Place

A place that people want to live in, work in and visit that works for all.

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National Park aims

The Cairngorms is the UK’s largest national park at 4,528 sq km (6% of Scotland’s land mass) and is home to one quarter of the UK’s rare and endangered species. Around 18,000 people live in the National Park across the areas of Aberdeenshire, Angus, Highland, Moray, Perth and Kinross, with two million visitors enjoying this special place every year.

The National Park has four distinct aims as set out by Parliament:

These aims are to be pursued collectively. However, if there is conflict between the first aim and any of the others, greater weight is given to the first aim (as set out in Section 9.6 of the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000). This helps ensure conservation of the natural and cultural heritage underpins the economic, social and recreation value of the Cairngorms National Park. The Partnership Plan embeds this approach in the strategy for the National Park that is approved by Ministers and sets the framework for all public bodies that work within the Cairngorms, from organisations like NatureScot and the five local authorities to Transport Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Skills Development Scotland. The plan is also supported and delivered by a range of private and voluntary organisations.

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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.