Campaigners for a Galloway National Park are hailing a breakthrough in their six-year bid to secure the designation for the south-west.
Previously the Scottish Government stonewalled pleas to sanction a formal public consultation on the proposal.
But a historic shared policy deal announced with the Scottish Greens at Holyrood on Friday brought a change of heart.
The draft arrangement includes a commitment “to designate at least one new national park by the end of this parliamentary session”.
The Galloway National Park Association, which has been trying to convince Scottish Ministers of their case since 2015, welcomed the announcement.
Trustee Neil Picken told the News: “We are delighted that they have changed their minds.
“This is the sixth year we have been campaigning and it has been a long struggle. We have done everything they asked us to do.
“Three local authorities – Dumfries and Galloway, South Ayrshire and East Ayrshire – are behind it, as are the local MSPs.
“We are ahead of the game and should be first in the queue, that’s for sure. It’s Galloway’s time.”
Mr Picken, who runs Solway View Campsite at Balmangan, Kirkcudbright with wife Patricia, added: “We have been a forgotten part of Scotland for too long.
“This is our big chance to change things around after Covid.
“Galloway also has so much potential to help tackle the climate crisis by capturing carbon. National parks are a worldwide brand.
“Having one here would fit well with the Galloway and South Ayrshire Biosphere and the dark skies designation.”
Nicola Sturgeon hinted of a possible park rethink during a visit to Kirkcudbright ahead of the Holyrood elections in May.
In an interview with the News, the First Minister said creating a Galloway National Park could have “a big part to play” in helping Scotland meet UN protected land targets.
The imminent COP 26 climate conference in Glasgow also appears to have influenced the decision to gave another national park the green light.
Local MSP Finlay Carson said: “Given the new commitment for a third national park in the Green/SNP deal, Galloway must surely be top of the list with the fantastic progress GNPA have made in garnering widespread grass roots support for the next Scottish national park to be here.”
“A Galloway National Park would need to work for all, across our communities, from agriculture to tourism, and support jobs as well as working alongside the biosphere.”
