Southern Uplands Partnership | Progressing the SW Scotland Biosphere

Progressing the SW Scotland Biosphere

The proposed redesignation of the Biosphere in SW Scotland is poised at a crucial stage. Over the last few years, local partners, including Dumfries & Galloway Council, South and East Ayrshire Councils and Scottish Natural Heritage have commissioned a number of consultations and reports and these have indicated that the biosphere idea has community backing and would generate significant new economic activity. This has in turn won local political support for the idea. Local involvement is vital for Biospheres and their value comes from the engagement of communities, businesses and individuals. Progress now depends on local support.

Biospheres are areas established by countries working with the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) to promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable development, based on local community efforts and sound science. They are much more than just protected ecosystems of international or regional importance. Biospheres serve as 'living laboratories' for testing out and demonstrating integrated management of land, water and biodiversity. They are places which seek to reconcile economic development, social development and environmental protection, through partnerships between people and nature. Biospheres are nominated by national governments and their status imposes no additional restrictions in terms of development control. Biospheres are intended to place development proposals within a wider, more integrated and sustainable context.

In the last year, one UK Biosphere reserve has been redesignated, the Dyfi Valley in Wales. If the SW Scotland project goes forward it could be the third in the UK and the only one in Scotland, at least for the time being. There are around 500 Biospheres in over 100 countries around the World.

There is already strong interest in some local communities within the potential biosphere and there are proposals for biosphere-type projects linked to local marketing or promotion initiatives. The need now is to establish additional community “biosphere champions” to spread the message about the significance of having a UNESCO designated biosphere in this area and to assist with the task of applying for the redesignation.

If you want to know more or if would like to get involved, please contact Pip Tabor on 01750 725154 or email piptabor@sup.org.uk




Home \| About us \| Newsletters \| Publications \| Membership \| Events \| Contact us
Progressing the SW Scotland Biosphere The proposed redesignation of the Biosphere in SW Scotland is poised at a crucial stage. Over the last few years, local partners, including Dumfries & Galloway Council, South and East Ayrshire Councils and Scottish Natural Heritage have commissioned a number of consultations and reports and these have indicated that the biosphere idea has community backing and would generate significant new economic activity. This has in turn won local political support for the idea. Local involvement is vital for Biospheres and their value comes from the engagement of communities, businesses and individuals. Progress now depends on local support. Biospheres are areas established by countries working with the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) to promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable development, based on local community efforts and sound science. They are much more than just protected ecosystems of international or regional importance. Biospheres serve as 'living laboratories' for testing out and demonstrating integrated management of land, water and biodiversity. They are places which seek to reconcile economic development, social development and environmental protection, through partnerships between people and nature. Biospheres are nominated by national governments and their status imposes no additional restrictions in terms of development control. Biospheres are intended to place development proposals within a wider, more integrated and sustainable context. In the last year, one UK Biosphere reserve has been redesignated, the Dyfi Valley in Wales. If the SW Scotland project goes forward it could be the third in the UK and the only one in Scotland, at least for the time being. There are around 500 Biospheres in over 100 countries around the World. There is already strong interest in some local communities within the potential biosphere and there are proposals for biosphere-type projects linked to local marketing or promotion initiatives. The need now is to establish additional community “biosphere champions” to spread the message about the significance of having a UNESCO designated biosphere in this area and to assist with the task of applying for the redesignation. If you want to know more or if would like to get involved, please contact Pip Tabor on 01750 725154 or email piptabor@sup.org.uk		Map Geology History The Uplands Forest & Woodlands Rolling Farmland Watery Habitats Towns & Villages Employment Leisure Nature Based Tourism Trail Riding What People Say Find Out More Credits Links