25
Nov
Celebrating National Tree Week 2023
National Tree Week 2023 (25th November – 3rd December) is a great time to take a closer look at some […]
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Merrick Scottish Blackface Knitwear
Support the Biosphere's landmark Crowdfunder campaign!
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Galloway & Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere
World class for people and nature
Celebrating a decade of success
Galloway and Southern Ayrshire's UNESCO Biosphere status is renewed for another ten years
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Galloway & Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere
Covering almost 9,800 km² of southwest Scotland's land and sea, Galloway & Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere follows the rivers that flow out of the Galloway Hills: through forests and farmland, historic villages and towns, all the way to a ruggedly scenic coast.
As a region, our Biosphere includes iconic wildlife and natural habitats which are recognised as being of international importance. As an organisation, we create and facilitate partnerships that support conservation, learning, and a sustainable local economy. As a team, we are helping our communities become more resilient to climate change impacts, making Galloway and Southern Ayrshire a key part of the nationwide drive to achieve Net Zero goals by 2045.
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Galloway and Southern Ayrshire is recognised as a world class environment for people and nature.
Galloway and Southern Ayrshire’s designation was awarded in 2012 by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. There are more than 700 Biospheres around the world, a dynamic and interactive network working towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Every UNESCO Biosphere is a centre for learning and research, and for testing solutions to some of the most critical challenges of our time.
The GSA Biosphere vision: To celebrate our passion for living in a way that benefits people and nature.
Our programme addresses climate change impacts, land use and the biodiversity crisis. Individual and community wellbeing is an essential part of our remit, encouraging a closer connection with the world around us and ensuring the sustainable provision of food, fibre and fuel. Alongside local stakeholders, partner organisations and members of UNESCO’s global network, Galloway & Southern Ayrshire Biosphere is sharing knowledge, experience and ideas in pursuit of a better future for all.
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What We Do
Our ordinary is extraordinary
Galloway and Southern Ayrshire is a place of inspiration and discovery, where countless generations of travellers have paused to sit beside rivers and gaze across wild landscapes. Some of Scotland’s best-known thinkers and writers have spent time here, from St Ninian to Robert Burns. Today visitors are welcomed into our rural communities and invited to enjoy a cultural scene that celebrates the richness of Biosphere life.
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