Storm Eowyn earning itself a very rare red weather warning in the Scotland showed that bolder action is needed to combat climate change, the head Scotland’s first national park has said.
Gordon Watson, chief executive of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority, was reacting to First Minister John Swinney’s statement that that the transition to net zero ‘would abandon no community’.
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Mr Watson said climate change was undeniable, listing its recent impact in the national park:
- Temporary closure of Conic Hill path – one of Scotland’s busiest hills (see featured image)
- The loss of the ‘bicycle tree’ at Brig o’ Turk, a beloved mature sycamore, entwined with bicycle parts and steeped in local history
- And the felling of an ancient Redwood at Benmore Botanic Garden
“The time for half-measures is over,” he said.
“We need bolder, more ambitious collective action to protect our environment, safeguard our heritage and build a resilient future for our communities and economy.
“As Scotland’s first National Park, we are committed to continuing our efforts, but we need every sector and individual to unite in confronting this crisis.
“We are all connected to this crisis, and we must work together – locally, nationally, and globally – to ensure that we protect not only the landscapes we cherish but also the future of generations to come.
“The urgency is clear and undeniable. The moment to act is now.”
He said that extreme weather events, like that of Storm Eowyn, would worsen and become more frequent unless there was urgent action, listing steps that had been taken in the park, including the expansion of woodlands, large-scale biodiversity projects and restoring freshwater systems.
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The park’s partnership plan, which runs until 2029, has targets including restoring 5,900 hectares of peat.
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