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Scottish Coastal Forum: Current ICZM initiatives: Spring 2004
Coastal management in the Forth
From the tidal water limit at Stirling to the Isle of May at its North Sea entrance, the Forth is 96 km long and covers an area of 1,670 km2. It is a valuable natural resource in many ways and the Forum works to ensure its sustainable use. The Forum is a voluntary partnership comprising members from a diverse range of organisations who combine together to:
Create a co-ordinated approach to the planning and the management of the Forth.
Observe common principles of operation to guide decisions on the use of the Forth and the management of activities.
Promote the exchange of information and opinions about the Forth, and improves communication and understanding between users.
Encourage everyone to consider the full implications of future decisions on other users and upon the estuary itself.
The Forum created a strategy in 1999 that sets out aims for implementing integrated coastal zone management. It is divided into Guiding principles; Themes; Objectives; Guidelines and Action points.
The Forum is a company limited by guarantee and a charity. Its independence from any one organisation eases its role to coordinate and facilitate Integration between partners. Membership services provide the platform to communicate to and between members.
"Fife Council is committed to the principles of sustainable development and supports the Forth Estuary Forum as the key vehicle to deliver ICZM through partnership between the key organisations and agencies responsible for the Forth."
Councillor Jock Cameron, Spokesperson Development and Planning, Fife Council
Following a week-long seminar the Forum produced the Forth Estuary Modelling System (FEMS). This brought together the region's modellers with conservation experts, geomorphologists and coastal managers to create a decision-making tool, now available on CD.
Forth Coastal Litter Campaign - This highly successful project has co-ordinated beach cleans and increased threefold the number of adopted beaches.
The monitoring has highlighted some interesting aspects to litter in the Firth and many schools have benefited from the project officer's talks.
"Dalgety Bay has benefited from the beach clean ups and much interest is now being shown by residents and youth organisations which is giving us a list of volunteers willing to carry out further work. The campaign is certainly showing results on the shoreline and we feel this is especially important as the Fife coastal footpath, which attracts many visitors, runs through Dalgety Bay."
Dalgety Bay and Hillend Community Council
"We really enjoyed listening to your interesting talk about keeping beaches clean. We think it is wrong to ruin beaches and the next time we go to the beach we will try not to drop any litter."
Doune Primary School
Managed Realignment Research - The Forum has chaired the steering group since inception of this project in 1999. Work by the Forum's coastal defence topic group led to the feasibility studies and public consultation. The Forum has ensured ICZM principles were adopted and an objective and balanced view maintained throughout.
"If FEF was not here we would have to re-invent it, in order to involve all the players we need to engage in projects addressing the challenge of sea level rise and habitat loss."
Dr Patricia Bradley RSPB
Forth Access Initiative
Forth Estuary Forum, Scottish Natural Heritage, Paths for All Partnership and Sustrans developed a brief in early 2002 to study the feasibility of creating a coastal corridor for "access" around the Forth. Two conferences were held to discuss the issues with relevant organisations and gain the views of a wide range of people. The study is now complete and the Forum aims to take the recommendations forward in creating access to and enjoyment of the Firth of Forth.
Strategic Review
In 2002 the management group reviewed the action points in the Integrated Management Strategy. Following this three areas will form the focus in future: Communication and marketing, planning and development policy and research. With 10 years' experience, the Forum aims to learn from its ICZM experience and refine its working practices to ensure it continues to improve in delivering facilitation and coordination of coastal zone management.
Forth Estuary Forum, Exmouth Building, Port of Rosyth, Rosyth,
Fife KY11 2XP
Tel: 01383-420104
E-mail:
secretary@forthestuaryforum.co.uk
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