Forth and Teith Catchment Management Plan and Data & GIS Officer starts

Mapping and data compilation plays a big part in identifying what projects the Trust plans to carry out next. At the beginning of August, Michiel Voermans joined the team as our Data and GIS officer to help staff make better use of digital mapping software and compile the information we have already collected into digital form.

One of the first tasks Mike set out to deliver was to work alongside Jonathan and Jo to develop the Forth and Teith catchment management plan. This plan was commissioned and funded by the Forth District Salmon Fishery Board and Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park to help guide proposed works for both catchments for the benefit of the rivers, wildlife and communities into the future. The plan runs to 2027 when it will be reviewed but yearly updates to the plan are proposed as well.  

For the first time, we were able to use Mike’s skills in GIS to create a management plan in the form of a story map. Story maps are interactive ways to highlight map data and can come in all shapes and sizes. We have been able to tell the stories of the Forth and Teith highlighting the key pressures within the catchments whilst outlining the many opportunities we know about for improving habitats for wildlife.

You can check out our story map by clicking the link below.

https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/dc03bc7442ac4768b3e0b7b9bdafedf3

We would love to know what you think of the story map and if you have any suggestions, please get in touch by emailing trust@forthriverstrust.org