Forest of Dean bid for Unesco ‘biosphere’ status gets County Council support
A bid for the “unique” Forest of Dean to achieve international recognition as a Unesco Biosphere reserve has received the backing of Shire Hall.
Biosphere reserves status recognises the landscape, wildlife, heritage and learning opportunities in an area.
And they are considered learning places for sustainable development by Unesco in promoting and working towards a positive future by connecting people and nature,
There are more than 700 recognised reserves across the world across 136 countries including places such as the North Devon coast, Florida’s Everglades and the Canary Islands.
Forest of Dean councillors agreed previously to go ahead with the application and now the County Councillors have acknowledged the benefits of a biosphere reserve could bring to the Dean.
Gloucestershire County Council will write a letter supporting the Forest of Dean Dsitrict Council’s application as well as signing a partnership working agreement.
They will also allocate £16,000 to help support the bid and work with partners to develop the long-term business plan for the biosphere.
Councillor Chris McFarling (G, Tidenham), proposed the motion at a full council meeting in Gloucester.
In his motion he said the intergovernmental scientific program set up in 1971 aims to improve the relationship between people and their environment.
“Biosphere designation is a way of valuing the natural environment and cultural heritage where people and nature reconnect and work together with future generations in mind.
“As a Biosphere, it will add greater pride of place district and county wide, and achieve significant eco-tourism potential, if it becomes the eight UK Biosphere.”
He said an assessment of the economic case for the Forest of Dean Biosphere was undertaken by the Office for National Statistics on behalf of the Forest Economic Partnership.
And it showed a benefit cost ratio of four to one for every £1 spent in a Forest Biosphere over three decades due to increases in tourism, sustainable development and the sale of premium products with Forest of Dean Biosphere branding.
“The Forest of Dean, the land between two rivers, has a unique and very special culture, globally significant species and habitats and a very strong pride of place,” he said.
“Gloucestershire’s emerging draft vision sees our outstanding natural landscapes as a strength, from the Cotswolds to the Wye Valley, our landscapes attract millions of visitors.
“With the potential to act as living laboratories boundaries, the slow nature-based solutions, and a foundation for a future biosphere designation that can showcase nature and green living possibilities.
“We all want Gloucestershire’s environment, culture and economy to thrive and prosper.
“And with this council’s partnership, the Forest of Dean’s Unesco Biosphere status can only add impetus to the realisation of these ambitions.”
He said it would not be a “quick fix” but it would provide a “long-term well proven framework within which our communities can find ways to live well, use resources wisely and grow within our means.”
The motion was seconded by Cllr Martin Horwood (LD, Leckhampton and Warden Hill) who said the council is committed to sustainable goals and the protection of ecosystems.
He said the UK was one of the most nature depleted countries in the world.
“We have only belatedly realised we have deforested virtually our entire island,” he said.
“And we’ve only belatedly realised the real value of the forests that remain.”
He hopes the biosphere reserve status would help provide economic and social benefits to the Forest of Dean.
“They’re not giant nature reserves,” he said. “This is about putting areas of ecological diversity and richness like the forest to be on the map.
Councillor Piers Camp (R, Drybrook and Lydbrook) said the idea sounded good but had some reservations.
He said he would not be voting against the motion but had some concerns over the business case figures and the lack of public consultation in the Forest.
Councillors voted to approve the motion by 36 votes in favour from Conservatives, Green Party, Independent, Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors while the ten Reform UK members abstained.