Sunshine Coast Regional Council – Council Corner

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Extract taken from Sunshine Coast Regional Council website

Noosa Biosphere Reserve

The former Noosa Shire was awarded Biosphere status on September 20, 2007. In awarding this status, the Bureau of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) International Coordinating Council of UNESCO noted the strong sense of community involvement and coordination over a broad range of human settlement and natural environmental issues. As a result, the former Noosa Council made recommendations to the Sunshine Coast Regional Council for a Noosa Biosphere Governance Board to manage the participation of a range of public authorities, local communities and private interests.

What is a biosphere?

A biosphere reserve is an international conservation designation given by UNESCO (United Nations Educations, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) under its Programme on Man and the Biosphere. Biosphere reserves are sites that demonstrate innovative approaches to conservation and sustainable development. They share their experience and ideas nationally, regionally and internationally within the World Network of Biosphere Reserves. There are 507 sites worldwide in 102 countries. Biosphere Reserves go beyond confined protected areas, and include zones where economic development is fostered via partnerships that include local people. Biosphere Reserves are about developing quality economies based on local community action and entrepreneurship, sound science, public-private sector partnerships and networking. Biosphere reserves also provide learning sites to experiment with and showcase various approaches to sustainable development that are culturally relevant to local communities. The Noosa Biosphere Reserve is the first in Queensland.

What are the benefits of biosphere reserves?

The biosphere reserve concept can be used as a framework to guide and reinforce projects to enhance people’s livelihoods and ensure environmental sustainability. UNESCO recognition can serve to highlight and reward such individual efforts. Designation of a site as a biosphere reserve helps to raise awareness among local people, citizens and government authorities on environmental and development issues. It can attract additional funding from different sources. Biosphere reserves can contribute to a global network of high profile pilot sites or “learning places” to explore and demonstrate approaches to conservation and sustainable development, providing lessons which can be applied elsewhere.

What does it mean for us?

Working together in partnership with the community, industry and research/education groups, and learning through networking. There is potential for Noosa Biosphere Reserve to be a catalyst for more cross-biosphere collaboration.

Head of the MAB secretariat, Dr Ishwaran confirmed during his visit to Noosa was the exact place he was looking for to challenge the Biosphere Program through its activities and initiatives. The concept of biosphere reserves is more applicable today in the light of the emerging 21st century challenges including mass distinctions, loss of biodiversity and climate change. There is a need for the Biosphere Program to be reinvigorated and made more relevant.

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