Restoration Forth

The Project’s Aims

Restoration Forth is a major marine restoration project working with communities to restore seagrass habitats and European flat oyster populations in the Firth of Forth. By 2026, the project aims to trial seagrass restoration across 4 hectares and to return 30,000 oysters to the Firth of Forth.

The project is under the management of WWF but is a collaboration of scientists, charities and community groups, with the intended goal of connecting communities with their local seascape. Fife Coast and Countryside Trust are a community hub for Restoration Forth and we provide support to the oyster and seagrass activities.

Did you know?

The Firth of Forth was once a thriving marine ecosystem which supported a mosaic of native habitats and species. However, centuries of transformative activities and large scale industrialisation along its banks, has led to a shift in the environmental landscape.

The Forth formerly supported an expansive oyster reef until our appetite for oysters surpassed their natural restocking ability. As a consequence there are virtually no remaining oysters in the Forth today. Moreover, the extent of seagrass meadows present in the Forth are considered to be a fraction of their historic extent.

Restoration Forth intends to initiate the rejuvenation process of the Forth. By re-introducing these two species in greater densities it is hoped that these populations will be able to self-seed and propagate naturally, bringing with them beneficial ‘ecosystem services’ and encouraging an increase in biodiversity.

The UN has designated this next decade as the decade of ecosystem restoration in response to the acceleration of habitat loss. Restoration Forth is a project that aims to champion the incentives outlined by this UN initiative.

Funding

The first phase of Restoration Forth (2022-24) was made possible by funding from Aviva, the Moondance Foundation, the ScottishPower Foundation and the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund, facilitated by the Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund, and managed by NatureScot.

The current phase of Restoration Forth is made possible by funding from Sky and the Cinven Foundation; the project is supported by the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund, managed by NatureScot.

How to get involved

This project will be facilitated through citizen science, volunteering opportunities and through a marine awareness programme. Please keep a close eye on Restoration Forth and our website and social media channels, so that you don’t miss an opportunity to get stuck in with seagrass restoration. As one of the community hubs we will also be offering a range of events from rockpool guddles, beach art and a range of practical conservation tasks. Check our events page for upcoming events.