A new strategy group chaired by Scottish environment minister, Roseanna Cunningham, is to be established following the publication of report looking at the future of Scotland's National Parks.

The number of members serving on the boards of both the Cairngorms National Park and the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authorities (NPA) will also be slashed as part of efforts by the Scottish Government to reduce public spending. It follows a consultation into the recommendations from a review of National Park management in Scotland, which will also ensure that both NPAs remain as non-departmental public organisations.

Cunningham said: "There is a clear case for reducing the number of members on National Park Authority boards while continuing to have a mix of national and local interests. I intend to reduce the number of ministerial appointees and local authority representatives whilst maintaining the number of directly elected members. "Conveners will also continue to be elected by the boards as, although the review recommended they should be appointed, we listened to and took on board the preferred option of the consultees."