The Galloway and South Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere is internationally recognized as a world-class environment for people and nature. The organization that delivers its program of activities is led by a Partnership Board and Trustees, with a team of staff working across more than 9,700 km² of south-west Scotland. Activities are based on partnership working and knowledge sharing, centered around a central principle of sustainability: finding balanced and equitable ways to live, work, and play. GSA Biosphere's projects include conservation, land management, enterprise, community initiatives, and education, all expressing the importance of rural heritage, cultural identity, and a sense of place.
The GSA Biosphere organization works across a vast geographical area without a major urban center. Connectivity - transport and digital - is relatively poor, and the region includes some of Scotland's most deprived areas, where economic and social factors impact individual and community well-being. The business landscape is exciting, diverse, and largely composed of micro and small businesses, which are particularly vulnerable to systemic shocks. The Biosphere team is committed to mitigating these issues by providing inclusive, accessible, and free learning programs and support. Its pioneering Biosphere Communities program empowers local development trusts to promote their villages and towns as destinations for sustainable tourism; the tangibles provided by the Biosphere include interpretive panels, leaflets for nature walks and heritage trails, and outdoor activities at community fairs and events. As part of its outreach work, the Biosphere team has led and supported farm walks, wildlife recording, and community food projects. Wherever possible, the organization incorporates online participation; it is active on all the major social media platforms, distributes a monthly e-newsletter, and runs an 'Adventures in Nature' series on YouTube, introducing the fascinating natural environment to those who may not be able to visit in person. Business-focused workshops support the small businesses and sole traders mentioned above, bringing together different sectors to network and connect on topics such as 'Green Stories' (aka sustainability storytelling) and 'Business for Biodiversity'. Meanwhile, the Biosphere Guide Training Course (also free) enables local people to develop new business ideas based on history and outdoor adventure.
The GSA Biosphere is a participatory organization that does not impose or enforce rules, and its education and activity program is primarily delivered at a community level. It is very responsive to the times, addressing skills development (with two annual paid internships for local people looking to develop their careers), learning for sustainability (the Biosphere provides free resources for local educators and delivers outdoor learning for schools and community groups), and everyday life at home (Biosphere Footsteps is a free series of workshops exploring sustainability at home by saving energy and reducing waste). The Biosphere Communities program is mentioned above. The organization also has a Sustainable Events Charter, which commits signatories to ensuring that the economic and environmental benefits of events held in the region are plowed back into local communities, with a particular focus on protecting nature and culture, for which UNESCO status was first awarded in 2012. Events operating under the Biosphere logo in 2023 include Spring Fling, Scotland's leading open studio arts and crafts event, and Raiders Gravel, a gravel cycling festival attracting competitors from around the world. In its first ten years, the GSA Biosphere has become an organization that community organizations can turn to for support and advice. It has helped promote community ownership initiatives such as Carsphairn Community Woodland and the Kings Arms Pub in Ballantrae. Biosphere officers are leading Community Visioning with Nith Life, a grassroots organization with the potential to develop into a landscape restoration organization.
The GSA Biosphere shares an environmental and ethical mission with a global network of more than 740 UNESCO Biospheres - its program is based on the UN's sustainability goals, with a particular focus on conservation, sustainable business, education, and climate awareness. This mission is an integral part of its operations and messaging, and sustainability is the key principle underpinning all Biosphere partnerships and projects.
Partners from all sectors are encouraged to join the Biosphere in working towards Scotland's ambitious Net Zero targets and solving the biodiversity crisis. More than 400 individuals, organizations, schools, and community groups have signed up as Biosphere Proud Supporters, pledging to uphold a charter designed to inspire positive impacts for people and nature. Many business Proud Supporters have taken this further through the Biosphere Certification Mark scheme, a trademarked accreditation that recognizes sustainability in business, from land-based enterprises to the creative arts. In 2022, the Biosphere launched its Visitor Charter, which complements local authority travel and tourism policies - live local, low carbon.
The Biosphere team delivers accredited carbon literacy training (including to its staff) to communities, colleges, and other organizations. It sits on steering groups for organizations such as the Machars and the Cree Valley Climate Action Network, working on projects involving reuse, beach cleaning, community food, and more. The Biosphere is particularly involved in green health and active travel projects that get people out of their cars and exploring on foot or by bike.
Find out more about the finalists for the Helping it Happen Awards 2023