Galloway and South Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere has had its achievements recognised for the past decade with an extension of its status for the next 10 years.
More than ten years since Galloway & Southern Ayrshire (GSA) was designated Scotland’s first UNESCO Biosphere, a global delegation of UN officials announced the renewal of the site’s UNESCO status.
The extension is in recognition of its pioneering achievements in sustainable development and supporting global climate change goals.
A further boost is that the boundary is set to be almost doubled, moving from more than 5,200 km² to almost 9,800 km².
The GSA Biosphere’s boundary will now be extended to incorporate Alloway (the home of Scotland’s national bard Robert Burns), the Rhins of Galloway (Scotland’s most southernly point) and 12 nautical miles of the marine environment.
This news has been welcomed by myriad community groups, conservationists, business leaders, landowners, farmers, schools, SOSE (South of Scotland Enterprise), local authorities, and other UK biospheres, who believe Galloway and Southern Ayrshire is “all the better – economically, socially, culturally, and environmentally - for being part of a UNESCO Biosphere".
Announcing the renewed status at a reception in Drumlanrig Castle on the Queensberry Estate in the heart of rural Dumfries and Galloway this week, Meriem Bouamrane, head of research and policy for the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, based in Paris, said: “The Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere is an inspiring, internationally recognised place for living, which is reconciling conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.
"We are absolutely delighted to announce today that we will be renewing its designated status for a further ten years, including an expansion of its geographical boundary.”
Looking to the future, Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere director, Ed Forrest, said: “Our success to date is testament to the fantastic support we’ve had from partners, including residents, community groups, business leaders, land managers, schools, local authorities and South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE).
"Our renewed and expanded UNESCO Biosphere designation will allow us to build on this and do so much more to support our vision for a just and equitable approach to life where people and the environment are both given equal consideration.
"The ultimate success of the Biosphere will be when people no longer think about the actions they have to do to achieve this balance, but rather do them automatically because they have become societal norms.”
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