RSPB’s Firth of Forth Futurescapes

The Inner Forth is an area rich in wildlife, protected under national and European law.  The area has suffered from large scale habitat loss mainly through intensive industrial and agricultural use.  With the additional pressures from new development and sea level rise due to climate change, there is a need for action to protect this important natural resource. 

The Firth of Forth Futurescape’s project, led by RSPB Scotland and supported by SEPA and other organisations, is considering large-scale restoration opportunities on the Forth to create new wetland, including saltmarsh, mudflats and reedbeds to benefit birds, the environment, and the community.  The project provides a real opportunity to address issues of flood risk management, pollution and climate change adaptation.

The project is centred around RSPB's Skinflats nature reserve.  Skinflats, an important intertidal nature reserve, was restored in 2010 and provides inspiration for similar projects elsewhere on the Forth.  Although on a small scale, the project demonstrates the potential of natural flood management on the coast. 

For more information on the project please visit the RSPB website:  http://www.rspb.org.uk/ .