Scottish river organisation nominated for international River Prize

The organisation that protects the River Tweed in Scotland has been nominated for an international River Prize.

River Tweed is a 97-miles-long river that flows east across the Border region in Scotland and northern England.

Tweed Forum protects and conserves the river, and as a result of its work, has been shortlisted for the award.

Thiess International River Prize is awarded for outstanding achievements in river restoration and protection management and is presented each year by the International River Foundation.

The winner will be awarded $200,000 Australian dollars (just over £121,000) in prize money.

Tweed Forum is up against three other contenders – the San Antonio River in Texas, USA, The Nushagak and Kvichak Rivers in Alaska, USA and the Pasig River in the Philippines.

The River Tweed is one of the UK’s most productive salmon rivers and a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation under European legislation.

Tweed Forum’s work led to UNESCO recognition in 2009, and the receipt of the first UK Rivers Prize in 2015.

The organisation works with farmers, foresters, landowners, ghillies and public and private sector bodies on both sides of the Border to deliver river restoration, improve water quality and manage the river's habitat.

If successful, the Tweed Forum would like to use the prize money to employ an education officer and develop an apprentice scheme to encourage the same practice in other parts of the UK.

The 2017 winner will be announced at the International Riversymposium in Brisbane, Australia in 18 to 20 September.