Sustainable Development Goals

No Poverty

Regional partnerships and local initiatives are supporting employability in our workforce through vocational training, including youth skills development provided by Whithorn ReBuild, and apprenticeships with East Ayrshire Woodlands.

Zero Hunger

Community gardens, local food banks and food education projects are helping to make nutritious local produce more accessible and affordable across the Biosphere. Examples include the MAC-CAN Croft, run by Machars & Cree Valley Climate Action Network.

3. Good Health & Wellbeing

Spending time outdoors in nature benefits mental and physical health, and the Biosphere is full of opportunities for fresh air, exercise, or simply finding peace of mind. Our Explore the Biosphere map shows some of the Biosphere’s best locations for relaxation, fitness and wellbeing. One of the initiatives we have been involved with is development of South Ayrshire’s Green Health app.

4. Quality Education

Biosphere schools are incorporating Learning for Sustainability into their curriculums and undertaking special projects that focus on SDGs. In partnership with staff and pupils at Girvan Primary, we developed a Learning for Sustainability Toolkit which has been distributed across the region to support educators in delivering outdoor, environmental education and global citizenship skills.

6. Clean Water & Sanitation

There are several community-owned toilets worth a stop in our Biosphere! Examples include Straiton and the Biosphere Community of Colmonell.

7. Affordable & Clean Energy

Community-led energy initiatives such as the KPT Community Trust’s Micro-Hydro are helping local people access renewable energy, while projects such as the Glentrool Hive demonstrate how eco-friendly building practice can provide local benefits for years to come.

8. Decent Work & Economic Growth

The Biosphere Certification Mark scheme inspires sustainable enterprise, showing how we can work cooperatively to create a robust local economy. We help businesses talk about their journey towards sustainability through our Green Stories resources and workshop.

Sustainable Cities and Communities

Biosphere Communities are villages and towns where local residents are committed to living more sustainably, not only by cutting carbon emissions and reducing waste, but by building community pride in local heritage.

The GSA Biosphere is an accredited Carbon Literate Organisation and we deliver learning to educational institutions, businesses and organisations on Net Zero targets and reducing waste.

13. Climate Action

Through the Biosphere Footsteps programme our organisation is bringing interactive climate awareness training into communities. By supporting community action groups such as MAC-CAN we are growing a wider awareness of the ‘think global, act local’ approach and helping people get involved in their local area.

14. Life Below Water

Organisations such as the Loch Ken Trust and Galloway Fisheries Trust are taking care of our rivers, lochs and wetland environments through scientific research and ecosystem restoration.

15. Life On Land

Conservation work in the Biosphere is helping our precious biodiversity, for example at Threave Estate and Cairnsmore of Fleet. Education and interpretation at key locations is widening awareness of our nature crisis while encouraging a closer connection between people and environment. Our nature recording project The Biosphere’s Most Wanted is empowering more local people to get involved through citizen science.