Two bids to create national parks in Lochaber and Loch Awe - which may include Oban - will be submitted to the Scottish Government before its deadline of February 29.
The SNP-Green government has committed to designating at least one new park in Scotland by 2026.
Six communities in the Highlands and Islands - Lochaber, Eilean a’ Cheo (Skye, Raasay and Rona), Affric to Alladale (Ben Wyvis and Glen Affric), Glen Affric and Loch Ness, Wester Ross and Lochalsh, and Loch Awe had expressed an interest. Four - Eilean a’ Cheo, Affric to Alladale, Glen Affric and Loch Ness, and Wester Ross and Lochalsh - withdrew this month.
Last week it was decided a bid would not go ahead for Skye, Raasay and Rona, after Portree and Braes Trust and Broadford and Strath Community Company met Highland councillors from Skye to discuss an interim report on consultations.
A statement from the meeting said: “Early indications are that the majority of those who participated in the consultation are not in favour of national park status for Ward 10 (Skye) and at this stage there are no plans to submit a formal application. The final report will be available to the public when completed.”
Earlier Strathglass Community Council, which led the bid for Affric and Loch Ness National Park, decided not to proceed despite majority backing in a community consultation.
It attracted 405 responses with 50.37 per cent supporting a bid, 41.23 per cent opposed and 7.9 per cent unsure. But views in postcode IV4, which incorporates the community council area, was split 50-50.
Those responding ‘yes’ largely cited the potential for environmental protection and visitor management, it said, while those voting ‘no’ largely cited the impact on farmers and crofters, and the potential for increasing visitor numbers and property prices.
The team behind a bid for Ben Wyvis and Glen Affric National Park also pulled the plug following community engagement events and a survey.
A spokesperson said: "While opinion in the area seems to be split pretty evenly for and against mounting a bid for national park status, it became clear that it would not be possible to properly and fairly address the serious concerns raised with us within the timescale allowed.
"Our team shares misgivings concerning the limited timeframe and resourcing afforded to nominating groups thus far, and in light of this we do not feel confident that the process going forward to the next stage will be allowed sufficient time and resource to achieve a satisfactory collaborative outcome."
A majority of people surveyed in Wester Ross and Lochalsh - 55.9 per cent - recommended no nomination for park status be put forward.
The survey, by community-led charity Wester Ross Biosphere, had 287 responses with 32.2 per cent voting Yes and 11.9 per cent unsure.
It said: “There is not sufficient evidence to demonstrate that communities find value in pursuing national park status. We recognise the sample size was small and the statutory timeline set out for consultation was challenging. However, we think it is important to respect the majority of those who were able to respond.”
Meanwhile in Argyll, a bid for Loch Awe National Park is pushing ahead - and may now include Oban following "positive support" in the town, said organiser Niall MacLeod.
He told us: "There were fantastic consultations, really informative. Oban may have to be included with that amount of positive support from the town. Is it now Oban and Loch Awe National Park? Perhaps, it is all to play for."
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