26 April 2006

Tay Estuary Forum - Annual Conference 2006

Friday April 28th
West Park Centre, Dundee.
9.30 am - 4 pm

All aspects of life on and around the River Tay - from climate change and its effect on floods to the role of the river in helping make Scotland Europe’s No. 1 wildlife tourism destination - will be discussed at the Tay Estuary Forum’s annual conference in Dundee on Friday April 28th.

The forum, which is housed by the University of Dundee, encompasses a wide range of organisations and community groups with an interest in the estuary.

This year’s conference is divided into two main themes - `The Working Tay’ and `The Tay at Play’.

The former covers some of the history of the river, including the evolution of Dundee’s harbours and the North Carr Lightship, and issues which are very much affecting the river in the present day.

Among those is climate change and the new challenges it may present. In his talk, Dr Andrew Black, of the Department of Geography at the University of Dundee, will discuss climate change and flood risk on the Tay at Perth, which has long suffered from the effects of flooding, as clearly marked in the records engraved onto Smeaton’s Bridge.

In `The Tay at Play’ the conference will hear from Caroline Warburton of the organisation Wild Scotland, which works to promote wildlife-watching opportunities in Scotland and also promote best practice through a responsible approach to wildlife and the environment and also by providing enjoyable and professional experiences for visitors.

Wild Scotland has a vision - that Scotland is the best place in Europe to go wildlife-watching. Caroline will outline the truth of that statement in her talk.

There are also presentations on Angus coastal paths and sustainable tourism opportunities in the Inner Tay estuary.

"Our conference this year is a great mix of the many issues that have shaped how the Tay and its adjacent coastline has developed over the years, and those that will shape it in the future," said Professor Robert Duck, chair of the Tay Estuary Forum.

NOTES TO EDITORS

The Tay Estuary Forum housed by the University of Dundee was established in 1997 with the aim of "promoting the wise and sustainable use of the Tay estuary and adjacent coastline". The forum is a non-statutory, voluntary partnership, which forms part of a network of similar partnerships, working under the umbrella of the National Scottish Coastal Forum.

The Forum provides a focus for key stakeholders in the Tay coastal zone, local community groups and all those with an interest in the estuary. It is guided by a steering group which includes the four local authorities - Dundee, Angus, Perth and Kinross and Fife Councils, Montrose and Dundee Port Authorities, Universities of Dundee, Abertay and St Andrews, Crown Estate, Scottish Water, Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, and The Dundee and Tayside Chamber of Commerce.

For media enquiries contact:

Roddy Isles
Head, Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk