In this column this month, Gordon Watson, chief executive of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority, discusses the efforts in the region for Climate Week.

Right now, the challenges facing National Parks, Scotland and indeed the rest of the world are unprecedented.

Here in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, the devastating impacts of the global nature crisis and climate emergency are being felt.

Seeing the effects of these crises firsthand makes the reality even more stark; unprecedented rainfall resulting in flooding and landslips in our communities and a much warmer climate having huge impacts on nature and wildlife.

The State of Nature Report published last year revealed a 15 per cent decline in average species since 1994 and 43 per cent (172) of the species have declined strongly in the last decade.

As well as our wildlife, the biodiversity of our landscape affects many aspects of our lives, which can be easily taken for granted, from the health benefits of air quality to the nutritional value and availability of our food, and the livelihoods of those connected to it.

We must take urgent action now to determine a sustainable future of the National Park for future generations.

That’s why last month, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park joined all other UK National Parks to join the UN-backed ‘Race to Zero’ initiative, becoming the first National Parks in the world to do so.

Through this pledge, the parks are aiming to halve their global carbon emissions by 2030 and become carbon sinks by 2050, meaning they will collectively absorb more carbon than they emit.

This commitment supports the vision for Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, set out in our National Park Partnership Plan; by 2045 the National Park is a thriving place that is nature positive and carbon negative.

It must be stressed that tackling these twin crises is not separate from supporting the rural economy and our communities.

(Image: National Park)

By working together to address these, we can create a wider range of benefits for the National Park and its people, including more investment, business and employment opportunities.

While the special qualities of the National Park landscape – it’s peatland, woodland and water – are particularly suitable for soaking up carbon and greenhouse gases, individual and community action is also incredibly important.

The Climate Change Committee has estimated that 62 per cent of the changes needed to tackle climate change can only happen with societal and individual behaviour change.

Later this month, Climate Week (September 23–29) will encourage communities, businesses and individuals to share their personal experiences and actions of what they’re doing to adapt to and combat climate change.

Cameron House, for example, is one of many businesses across the National Park taking action to help tackle the twin crises, with a dedicated resort conservation manager steering sustainable business policies resulting in them being awarded a Green Tourism Gold award in recent years.

Staff have participated in volunteering in the National Park and the organisation has its own land management plan with bee conservation, tree planting and wildflower meadows developed on previously unused land.

We’ll be celebrating the week by sharing stories of the brilliant examples of climate action being taken across the National Park and would love to hear from you. By sharing our stories we hope to connect the people who love the National Park and inspire others to take collective action.

Contact PR&media@lochlomond-trossachs.org with your stories.