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Public Attitudes to the Environment in Scotland

7.6 AWARENESS OF NATIONAL PARK PROPOSALS AND AIMS

The purposes of National Parks go beyond wildlife and habitat protection in Scotland to encompass a broader notion of natural heritage. This incorporates ideas of public enjoyment, cultural heritage and sustainable development and is very much reflected in the four principal aims of National Parks set out by the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000. These are:

Following the creation of the 2000 Act, Scotland's first National Park, The Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, Was established in July 2002, with the Cairngorms National Park following in March 2003. Figure 7.7 shows the location of, and travel time distances to, each of the National Parks.

The Public Attitudes to the Environment in Scotland survey took place in the months leading up to the establishing of The Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. The survey found that just under three in ten people (28%) were aware of the proposals at this time (Table 7.10). Awareness of the park proposals was greatest among those living closest to the two park areas; 57% of people living in or within 20 minutes of the National Park areas said they knew of proposals. In contrast, 27% of those living over 20 minutes away had heard of them.

This awareness also varied strikingly with key demographic characteristics. For example, a third of men (36%) and only a fifth of women (20%) had heard of the proposals. Knowledge about the National Parks proposals increased with educational qualification attained and age, but fell among those aged over 65 years. A third of owner occupiers (33%) said they knew of the plans as did just a fifth of private renters (20%) and 16% of social renters. These findings are presented in Table 7.10.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, awareness of the National Parks plan was highest among those living in rural areas and particularly among those living in remote rural areas (38%). The survey also found that knowledge of the National Park proposals varied in relation to the countryside user typology. Four in ten frequent active users (38%) and three in ten frequent walkers (29%) knew of the plans and this fell to two in ten occasional walkers and non-users (18% and 20% respectively).

* Actual drivetime distance from either Loch Lomonds and Trossachs or proposed Cairngorms National Park areas

Respondents were then shown a list describing the different elements of the objectives and were asked to select all those they thought were the aims of National Parks. Overall, two thirds saw 'to encourage people to visit the area' and 'to protect and improve the natural heritage of the area' as aims of National Parks (Table 7.11). Three aims were identified by between four and five people in ten. These were 'to encourage sensible use of the natural resources of the area', 'to protect and improve the cultural heritage of the area' and 'to educate people about the area'. Only three in ten people selected 'to help the area's communities' as an aim of National Parks.

Some interesting patterns emerge when these perceived aims of National Parks are looked at in relation to socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents. For example, the perception that National Parks aim to 'protect and improve the natural heritage of the area' fell with age. Three quarters of those aged between 16 and 24 years (74%) selected this compared with fewer than six in ten people in the oldest age group (57%). However, those in this youngest age group were least likely to feel that National Parks were there to bring educational benefit. Although, one third (36%) of 16-24 year olds said that an aim of National Parks was 'to educate people about the area', half of those people aged between 25 and 44 years (50%) identified this as an aim. Level of education attained was also significant here. Six in ten of those with degrees or professional qualifications (59%) thought that a role of National Parks was to 'encourage sensible use of the natural resources of the area' compared to around three in ten people with no formal qualifications (32%). Those living in rural areas generally were more likely to select each of the six aims than those from urban areas, and this pattern was also true for occasional and frequent active countryside users and frequent walkers. For example, around half of non users of the countryside (53%) thought that an aim was to 'protect and improve the natural heritage of the area' compared with three quarters of frequent and occasional active users (75% and 76% respectively).

The survey also asked what difference respondents felt National Parks would make to Scotland (Table 7.12). The most commonly selected answer was that they would 'help tourism'. Two thirds of respondents thought this and over half thought that National Parks would 'protect plants and wildlife' (55%). One in ten people (9%) believed that National Parks would make 'very little' difference to Scotland.

Although, there were no striking differences in opinion between groups for the key variables of sex, age, highest educational attainment and tenure type (table not shown), it is interesting to look at the variations in attitudes between urban and rural dwellers and between types of countryside user (Table 7.12).

People living in remote rural areas were more sceptical about the ability of National Parks to 'protect plants and wildlife', 'conserve areas / ways of life', 'inform and educate people' and 'improve the image of the area'. However, two thirds of people from remote rural areas thought that National Parks would 'help tourism' (66%). Different types of countryside user held divergent views on the difference National Parks would make to Scotland. In general, frequent active countryside users were most likely to select each of the possible impacts. For example, three quarters (74%) thought that National Parks would 'help tourism' compared with just over half of those who did not use the countryside (53%). An exception to this concerned the issue of whether National Parks would 'inform and educate people'. Here, occasional active users were most likely (56%) and non users were least likely to agree (34%).

7.7 THE FUTURE OF NATIONAL PARKS

Six in every ten respondents (61%) thought Scotland should have more National Parks (Table 7.13). Two in ten people (18%) said Scotland should not have more and another two in ten people did not know whether there should be more (21%). Those most supportive of the idea of more National Parks in Scotland were home owners and those attaining either Highers or Degree certificates or other professional qualifications. The oldest age group (65+) were more likely to say that they did not know whether Scotland should have more National Parks than those aged between 25 and 64 years.

These opinions can be looked at with regard to where people lived and their type of countryside use (Table 7.13). While there was little difference between the attitudes of urban and rural dwellers at the general level, over three quarters of people from accessible small towns said they thought there should be more National Parks, a proportion which fell to around half of those living in remote rural areas (51%). Interestingly, given the location of existing and proposed parks (see Figure 7.7), a quarter of those from remote rural areas said they did not know whether Scotland should have more parks. Support for more National Parks was highest among those who used the countryside, occasionally or frequently, for active pursuits. Around two thirds in these groups agreed there should be more parks, compared with six in ten frequent or occasional walkers and five in ten people who were non users of the countryside (51%). A third of this final group said instead that they did not know whether Scotland should have more National Parks (34%).

Those people who agreed that there should be more National Parks were then asked whether there should be more National Parks on the Scottish mainland, on the Scottish islands, or for areas of sea off the coast of Scotland (Table 7.14). The survey found that having more parks on the Scottish mainland was the most favoured option among those respondents who believed that Scotland should have more National Parks; over eight in ten people supported this option (83%). Over four in ten respondents supported either further National Parks on the Scottish islands or designations that cover areas of sea off the coast of Scotland (44% and 42% respectively). Support for both of these options increased noticeably with education and age (although it fell among the oldest age group).

Again these findings are interesting to consider in light of where people currently lived. Although, nine in ten respondents (90%) from large urban areas were in favour of there being more National Parks on the Scottish mainland, just under seven in ten people living in remote rural areas shared this view (69%). In contrast, between four and five in ten people (45%) in large urban areas thought that there should be some national parks on the Scottish islands, but this rose to six in ten people in remote rural areas (61%). A third of those from other urban areas (34%) felt that there should be some 'National Parks that cover areas of sea off the coast of Scotland' but there was support for this proposal from over half of people living in remote small towns and remote rural areas (52% each).

Some very disparate views were held by different types of countryside user. Similar proportions of non countryside users and frequent active users supported the idea of having more National Parks on the Scottish mainland (88%). However, non countryside users were much less likely to perceive the need to establish National Parks on Scottish islands or in areas of sea off the coast of Scotland than other groups. As Table 7.14 shows, while 29% of non users thought there should be some National Parks that cover marine areas, half of those who were frequent or occasional active users of the countryside shared this view (50% and 48% respectively).

7.8 SUMMARY

• Concern over the protection of wildlife, the protection of areas of conservation interest and new development in the countryside has risen since the 1991 survey, while concern for many other environmental issues has declined.

• 97% of those surveyed regarded the protection of wildlife and habitats as very or quite important, and six in ten people felt that wildlife and habitats were currently very or quite well protected.

• The three greatest threats to wildlife and habitats were seen to be 'new developments and roads being built in the countryside', 'pollution caused by industry' and 'crimes against wildlife'.

• The most effective way to limit threats to wildlife and habitats was seen to be 'fining companies for causing pollution that significantly harms wildlife and habitats' and least effective was 'killing higher number of species that cause damage to the habitats of other species'.

• Although voluntary organisations are currently seen as playing an important role in wildlife and habitats protection by three quarters of people, and over half of people thought that government agencies such as SNH, SEPA and the Forestry Commission play an important role, the public thought that the Scottish Executive or its agencies should play the most important role.

• At the time of the survey, fewer than three in ten people were aware of proposals for National Parks in Scotland.

• Two thirds of respondents thought aims of National Parks were 'to encourage people to visit the area' and 'to protect and improve the natural heritage of the area'. Less than a third of people thought that National Parks aim to 'help the area's communities'.

• Two thirds of people felt that National Parks in Scotland would 'help tourism' and over half thought they would protect 'plants and wildlife'. People who frequently used the countryside for active outdoor pursuits or walks were generally more likely to see the benefits of National Parks than non-users.

• Six in ten people supported the idea that there should be more National Parks in Scotland. Of these people, over eight in ten said there should be more parks on the Scottish mainland and over four in ten thought that there should be more parks on the Scottish islands and some National Parks that cover areas of sea off the coast of Scotland.

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