Clackmannanshire's Enterprise and Environment Committee has agreed in principal to invest £20k a year for the next four years in the Inner Forth Landscape Initiative.

The project will help conserve, enhance and celebrate the landscape of the Inner Forth Estuary.

In financial terms, it is thought the region will receive projects worth around £1m in return.

Councillors on the voiced their support for the pioneering partnership project which will ensure a series of schemes are delivered and, at the same time, provide local training opportunities.

The decision is expected to be ratified at the full Council meeting later this month.

Councillors agreed in principle to make a financial contribution of £20kper year for the delivery phase of the Initiative annually between 2014 and 2018. The money will be met from Council reserves.

The Inner Forth Landscape Initiative covers an area of 202 square kilometres around the River Forth in Clackmannanshire, Stirling, Falkirk and Fife. Within Clackmannanshire, the Initiative area includes the Forth shoreline approximately 1-2km inland from the shoreline.

The Forth is designated as an internationally important site for birds, providing refuge for thousands of wildfowl and wading birds in winter, while the landscape has also been home to Scotland's industries for centuries, becoming an important trading route with the rest of the world.

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Along the coastline, there is evidence of ancient ports and harbours, salt pans, limekilns, mining and whisky production, sitting alongside the industries of today at Grangemouth, Alloa and Longannet.

Inner Forth was successful in its initial application to the Heritage Lottery Fund securing approximately £75,900 and the Council has played a full part in this phase and, with partners, has developed proposals for environmental projects centred on the Black Devon and Cambus Pools areas.

The 10 projects in the Clackmannanshire area are likely to include the conservation and enhancement of natural heritage, as well as the conservation and enhancement of built and cultural heritage such as Clackmannan Tower and Alloa Tower.

Existing access routes to Cambus Pools will be upgraded as part of the project, while there will also be the provision of education, skills and training opportunities.

Speaking about the Initiative, Committee Convener Councillor Donald Balsillie said: "It will promote, protect and improve access to important historical and natural features and bring much needed investment to Clackmannanshire. This extremely important project will provide training opportunities for people within Clackmannanshire in local heritage skills, which clearly fits with the priorities set out in our Corporate Plan, 'Taking Clackmannanshire Forward'."

Vice-Convener, Councillor Irene Hamilton added: "We are delighted to back the Initiative. It is a significant investment by the Council and the project will ensure the enhancement of the area, particularly along the Black Devon towards Alloa. We're hopeful the project will also allow necessary works to be carried out to improve Clackmannan Tower for the benefit and use by the public."

The Initiative has been developed by a partnership of organisations, including the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, local authorities, SEPA, SNH, Historic Scotland, Central Scotland Forest Trust, TCV Scotland and Sustrans. Its intention is to reveal the hidden cultural, historical and natural wealth of the upper reaches of the Firth of Forth, and restore and conserve important features.

(JP/CD)