The Scottish Government and environmental groups are to be asked whether they think any more national parks are needed.
The Scottish Parliament public petitions committee decided to act after hearing that the designation of more national parks would protect scenic areas and boost the fragile rural economies.
The Scottish Campaign for National Parks and the Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland would like to see the creation of a government strategy for more national parks with a view to creating up seven more on top of the two existing ones for the Cairngorms and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs.
The Scottish Government does not believe that in the current financial climate the cost of more parks can be justified.
The campaigners believe its is possible to run a national park on as little as £1million and with just a handful of staff possibly supplemented by local authorities.
MSPs heard other organisations may be willing to contribute to their running.
The campaigners believe there is a strong case for designating new national parks in Harris, Wester Ross, Glen Affric, and the Ben Nevis-Glencoe-Black Mount area.
The committee decided to contact the Scottish Government and organisations like Scottish Natural Heritage, RSPB, the John Muir Trust, , NFU Scotland, and Scottish Land and Estates.