Biosphere Reserves

Pete Frost

Countryside Council for Wales

(Almost) everything you ever wanted to know, but were afraid to ask……

What are they?

What are they for? Conserving biodiversity, with Sustainable use Living laboratories for sustainable

development

What’s different about them? Social Cultural Spiritual Economic

What do they do?

ConservationDevelopment

Logistic

What do they look like?

But in reality…

How do they work? Stakeholder participation Management Plan Designated authority or mechanism Mechanisms to manage human use in

Buffer Zone Programmes for research, monitoring,

education, training

What’s the role of:

What do UNESCO do? Assess applications Maintain the world list Maintain the website

(http://www.unesco.org/mab/wnbr.htm) Promote networking Review existing Biosphere Reserves

Networking Capacity building Focus on different ecosystems Research and monitoring Sustainable development in action

The Periodic Review UK re-joins UNESCO UNESCO asks for a report DETR commissions review Some UK Biosphere Reserves de-

listed

What about the Dyfi?

•No zonation

•Too small

The good news! The most promising BR in the UK Easy to create Core Area and Buffer

Zones from existing Nature Reserves and protected areas (SSSI)

Transition Area could cover the catchment

What are the options?

Do nothing Apply to de-designate Bring it up to standard

How do we do it? Listen to informed local opinion Relay the result to the National

Assembly National Assembly works via the

UNESCO UK MAB Committee and the Foreign Office

….Form filling Very long Very detailed Lots of supporting information

Then what?

The hard work really starts!