Conservation
One conflict which has arisen on the North East coast has been that between conservation and leisure access.
This conflict has occurred at Forvie.
Forvie National Nature Reserve is a designated Special Protection Area (SPA) on the Aberdeenshire coast, north of Balmedie. It incorporates Sands of Forvie and the Ythan Estuary, and it is owned and managed by Scottish Natural Heritage.
Forvie is an area of notable environmental significance for several reasons:
- It is one of the largest and least disturbed sand dune systems in Britain.
- It has Britain’s largest breeding colony of eider ducks.
- It has the most extensive estuary in the North East.
- Its areas of dunes, heathland and vegetation are internationally important and support a range of plants, birds and other wildlife. In particular, Forvie hosts a large breeding tern colony.
Scottish Natural Heritage carries out important conservation work at Forvie in order to maintain the fragile environment.
Forvie attracts thousands of visitors every year, most of whom are walkers or birdwatchers, attracted by the area’s natural beauty. As well as the large system of dunes, the nature reserve also offers a scenic sandy beach, freshwater lochs, cliffs and bays.
Scottish Natural Heritage estimates that over 20,000 people visit Forvie each year.
