Deputy First Minister John Swinney said young Scots needed to be involved in national policy-making “absolutely routine”.
Mr Swinney was in Aviemore yesterday at a Europarc conference hosted by the Cairngorms National Park Authority.
It was used to launch the brand new Youth Manifesto aimed at addressing the issues and challenges young people highlighted as the most important aspects of living, learning and working in protected areas and rural communities.
Mr Swinney said: “One of the lessons we’ve taken from the Year of the Young People is the need to make the participation of young people in policy-making in our country absolutely routine and I think that is the big gain we have had from the Year of the Young People.
Here we go – the final #EUROPARC2018 Conference Award Ceremony is starting off with delegates in kilts and Scottish bagpipe tunes! Let's celebrate and carry on the inspiration of the last days into tonight's talks @cairngormsnews @YOYP2018 #europarcyouthmanifesto pic.twitter.com/5MANovQNSs
— EUROPARC Federation (@EUROPARC) September 21, 2018
“The decision of the Cairngorms National Park to establish a youth council will give the opportunity to focus very much on the needs and aspirations of young people and then to make sure those young people are able to have sustainable opportunities here.
“Essentially it means making sure we take the right economic and social interventions that create economic and social opportunities for young people but in a fashion that is compatible with protecting the natural environment and that is really what we have to weave together to ensure this delivers the opportunity young people need in the future.”
Europarc Atlantic Isles section ( @EFAtlanticIsles ) looking good at the #EUROPARC2018 market place (great Wensleydale cheese) and promoting the work of our NPs & AONBs. pic.twitter.com/1aSrkcQ7B2
— Prof Lynn Crowe (@LynnCroweSHU) September 21, 2018
He added: “I’m thrilled Europarc decided for the first time they would bring the national Europarc conference to the UK and that they decided to bring it here to Aviemore and to see the heart, strength and capacity of this venue and also the beauty of this area. It has been a tremendous opportunity.”
Over the course of the conferences three-day duration, 629 registered delegates have gathered from 39 countries across Europe to discuss ways in which to connect young people in protecting and sustaining the future of key environmental areas across the continent.
Great finale at #Europarc2018 with the launch of the Europarc Youth Manifesto by some inspirational young people.. pic.twitter.com/Gs3bvuNv0R
— Prof Lynn Crowe (@LynnCroweSHU) September 21, 2018
Peter Argyle, convener of Cairngorms National Park Authority, said: “It has been an absolutely tremendous conference right from the start when we proposed it three years ago.
“We have just been astonished by the number of people that wanted to come. It’s the biggest attendance Europarc has ever had by a considerable measure and there has been just the most tremendous buzz and enthusiasm with some really good conversations, debates and discussions.”
Luke Vogan, one of the youth delegates, said: “It has been absolutely brilliant and has exceeded all expectation. All of the youth delegates on this programme are really emotionally invested in the natural environment and the places that they come from.”
Mr Swinney also visited Inverness yesterday to meet some of the young people involved in Scotland’s life sciences sector.
