Third edition of Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere news!

Newsletter – July 2017

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Explore the big Biosphere ideas in this edition of Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere news!

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Reflections on a recent visit to Slovenia...
I have just returned from a visit to the lovely Bohinj valley in Slovenia on the southern edge of the Julian Alps. As well as a relaxing holiday it offered the chance reflect on how a country, not dissimilar in many ways to rural Scotland, is approaching its rural development and specifically the place of UNESCO biospheres.

Slovenia, the most northern of the Balkan countries, is a small country rich in beautiful landscapes, wildlife and nature, geology and tradition . Nature-based tourism and a timber industry based on its extensive semi-natural forest are very important to its economy with sustainability at the heart of the ethos.

The country has three biospheres of which the area of the Julian Alps and its fringing communities is by far the largest. Its core is the Triglav National Park, the only national park in Slovenia, an area of pristine alpine natural heritage.   As in this country, the national park designation is obviously the one most familiar to the public but the UNESCO Biosphere designation is used with pride as an accolade, demonstrating the international significance of the park. The ethos expressed is that of Biospheres - preserving natural and cultural heritage so it can support sustainable economic development, education and research.

Interestingly the Biosphere element is very much defined in terms of the relationship which traditional farmers and foresters have with the landscape and nature – the hay meadows, alpine pastures and transhumance, local cattle and sheep breeds, architecture including the distinctive Bohinj hayracks, the sustainable management of the forests.   The events include the spring Bohinj Flower Festival, and the autumn Cowherds Ball, the celebration of the traditional return of the cattle from the mountain pastures, now very much a tourist attraction. Farming and forestry practices are not in a time-warp and farming practices are changing but the traditions are valued.

While there are obvious differences between the Bohinj and Galloway and Southern Ayrshire- we lack the pristine wilderness of the Julian Alps, our forests are mainly non-native commercial plantations and our geology does not lend itself to the biodiversity richness of an alpine hay meadow - I do think we have assets of cultural heritage in particular which we are underusing and undervaluing. For example, the traditional sheep and cattle farming of the hills, uplands and moors has shaped our landscape and the vegetation cover whilst the cultural heritage and skills of the farming community are as potentially interesting as alpine dairying. Recognising the interest of local livestock breeds like Galloway cattle and Blackface sheep; crafts such as crook-making and sheep shearing; the skills of sheepdog handling; the architecture of drystone dykes and sheep buchts; or the folk memories of shepherds, all surely provide both a way of connecting local people and visitors to the natural environment and a sympathetic way of engaging with the farming community. Yet authentic events such as local agricultural shows, livestock markets and sheepdog trials which are alive and thriving are assumed to be of no interest to the general public.

We are often inclined to view cultural promotion in terms of how the landscape and nature inspires us creatively, but I think we are missing a trick and underselling the cultural heritage of our local country traditions practised by generations of ‘country people’.

Joan Mitchell Chair Biosphere Partnership

We need you... ...

Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere is five years old this July. Securing the designation was no mean feat, it had to be supported by both Scottish and Westminster Governments before being considered by an international committee based in Paris who recognised that Galloway and Southern Ayrshire had a unique offering that justified it joining an international family of over 660 UNESCO Biospheres from around the world.

Since its initial designation in 2012 awareness and understanding has slowly grown amongst our local communities, businesses and partners from across South West Scotland. This is demonstrated by having over 220 sign ups as Proud Supporters of the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere.

You can go to http://www.gsabiosphere.org.uk/what-we-do/resources/ to find out a bit more about what we’ve done over the last five years and what we hope achieve over the next five years.

We recognise this is only the beginning. Having secured funding support from our three local authority partners for the next five years we are now in a position to really start to make a difference. In recognition of this we are looking for new Biosphere Partnership Board members to help identify, guide and develop new opportunities that will lead to the UNESCO Biosphere status really putting South West Scotland on the map.

If you are a Proud Supporter and think that you have the skills, enthusiasm and time to join us in taking the Biosphere forward then please download a Biosphere Partnership Board Application Pack and return the completed form by 25th August 2017.

If you’d like more information please get in touch with;
Ed Forrest Biosphere Coordinator
E-mail ed@gsabiosphere.org.uk
Tel.0771 7767936

It's More than Just Light

In September this year ‘It’s more than just light’ the first European Dark Sky Places conference will be held in Scotland, UK.

The conference is a chance for the UK, Europe & further afield to come together as one and begin the process of change in how we manage our nocturnal environment and night skies for all living things.
Supported by the IDA, and being hosted jointly by Galloway Forest Dark Sky Park in Scotland and South West Scotland’s Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the conference will be a chance to share learning, create discussion; build networks, encourage collaborative partnership working and push further the agenda and a ‘call to action' to preserve the dark skies.

There is a packed program of national and international speakers covering:

Lighting constraints and design with architectural insights of the built environment we need to light. What is good lighting design and challenges in its application?
Light and its ecological impact and it’s effect on humans.
Darkness and its cultural role and significance to humanity. The role of ‘community’ in dark sky places
Dark skies and its effects and relationship to health and well-being.
The technical aspects of the planning regulations and safety codes, how you measure the dark environment. Why are the regulations set and how do we change them?
Transformational effects of Dark Skies and opportunities for economic development through eco-tourism.
Why is darkness so important to us and how do you inform the wider audience of this?

We do hope you can join us at this special 3 day event

For more information and a detailed program visit:
www.eudarkskiesconference.com/agenda

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