MORE affordable homes, more sustainable transport services and additional tree planting are among the goals set out in a new plan for the future of the National Park.

The Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority has kicked off a 12-week consultation on its draft National Park Partnership Plan. 

Residents, businesses, communities and visitors will be able to have their say on their priorities for the area's future.

The draft five-year plan, lasting until 2029 puts forward a vision of what the park authority wants the plan to look like not in 2029 but in 2045 - and sets out a wide range of proposals, driven primarily by the scale and urgency of the nature and climate crises.

It also recognises the changes in how people live, work and visit the National Park in recent years, particularly post-Covid 19 and the challenges and opportunities this offers.

Dr Heather Reid, convener of the park authority's board, said: “Our National Park matters to all of us, to Scotland and to the planet - and we have a small window of opportunity to tackle these huge challenges and help the park flourish for future generations.

“So we’re opening up a conversation to help us imagine the future of this National Park.

“It will mean doing things differently and doing much more of the positive things already underway - harnessing opportunities for new green jobs, affordable housing and sustainable transport, and supporting a shift in land use towards more regenerative, nature-friendly management, while still producing timber, food and other benefits to the public.

“We also need to help our visitors enjoy the National Park with less impacts on climate and nature.

“We don’t have all the answers but we do know this – change is happening regardless and our collective response to that change is the opportunity to provide a sustainable future for generations to come.”

The plan will focus on three key areas:

· restoring nature

· creating a sustainable, low-carbon visitor destination

· enabling a greener economy and sustainable living

Gordon Watson, chief executive at the National Park Authority, said: “The time to act is now and that action needs to be bold.

"This draft plan lays out the actions we are proposing for the next five years to achieve the transformational long-term change our National Park needs but this needs to be a collective plan, a shared vision.

“We all have an opportunity to shape the change that’s coming for our National Park and we want to hear about people's experiences, barriers and their ideas for the future of the National Park, whether that’s a family living in one of our communities, a farmer looking to diversify their activities or a visitor keen to help protect this special place.

“We can’t do this alone but collectively we can help shape the significant required to ensure the National Park’s people and places continue to thrive and that its natural assets can contribute significantly to Scotland’s efforts to restore nature, tackle climate change and have greener economic growth.”

The consultation runs until July 19.

To take part in the conversation about the future of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, go to bit.ly/nationalparkdraftplan2029.