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Scottish Coastal Forum: Current ICZM initiatives: Spring 2004
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View eastwards on the Clyde |
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Redshank on the Clyde |
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Encouraging good stewardship of resources for the benefit of future generations |
Firth of Clyde Forum:
The Firth of Clyde contains diverse natural habitats and a rich cultural heritage. It sustains a variety of human uses ranging from shipbuilding to fisheries, and is a major resource for tourism and recreation. The Firth of Clyde Forum has been in operation for nearly 10 years now, bringing together a range of partners with an interest in the Firth. In July 2000 it launched its "Integrated Management Strategy and Action Plan for the Firth of Clyde", which states the common objectives for all those involved in the Forum:
To harness the economic and environmental advantages of the Firth of Clyde.
To bring about regeneration of its role as a focus of activity.
To co-ordinate and manage this change on sustainable principles; and thereby.
To balance the commercial, environmental and social interests of the users of the Firth.
The Strategy contained a series of proposals to address the different issues facing the Firth, together with an Action Plan to take this forward.
Since then the Firth has been active in taking forward the strategy. It has organised a number of successful conferences, for example, a symposium on the ecology of the Firth at the University Marine Biological Centre in Millport, and a conference on the issue of flooding and catchment management in Glasgow. The latter event stimulated a broader proposal to set up a flood research centre for Scotland. The Forum has also supported several projects, such as a beach litter cleaning campaign, and a survey of archaeological heritage on the Firth. Details of all of this work are contained in the website,
www.clydeforum.org, which provides a medium for information, new reports and activities to be brought to the attention of anyone with an interest in the Clyde. The website also brings together data on the Clyde, and makes this widely available.
The Forum is valued by the community of interests around the Clyde. "It helps us to keep in touch with developments in the Firth which affect our members" says Mike Balmforth, of the British Marine Industries Federation.
The Forum has now agreed a further two-year programme, in which many of these activities will be taken forward. It will assist the regeneration work that is taking place on the waterfront, help to integrate initiatives promoting access to the coastline, and it promotes the Firth as a resource for tourism and recreation.
Firth of Clyde Forum,
Caspian House,
2 Mariner Court,
Clydebank Business Park,
Clydebank G81 2NR.
Tel: 0141 9514488
E-mail:clyde@clydeforum.org
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