The team from the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere will be in Stranraer on 5th December and have extended an open invitation to the public to join their special Year in Review event at Dumfries & Galloway College.
2023 has been a landmark year for the Biosphere organisation. Following a Periodic Review and ‘State of the Biosphere Report’ submitted to UNESCO in 2022, the announcement was made this summer that the designation had been renewed for another decade and its geographical boundary expanded. The Biosphere region now includes Alloway in South Ayrshire, the birthplace of Robert Burns, and the Rhins of Galloway, with Stranraer itself becoming the largest Biosphere town. Even more recently Galloway and Southern Ayrshire has made National Geographic’s prestigious ‘Cool List for 2024’, a name-check of the most exciting and inspiring travel destinations around the world, an accolade that was reported across national a press. Meanwhile the Biosphere’s launch of Merrick Scottish Blackface Knitwear earlier this month is dominating their social feeds and local news as the innovative social enterprise crowdfunds for expansion of its sustainable clothing range.
Alongside such standout moments in the Biosphere’s lifetime so far there will be a look ahead to 2024. The organisation’s partnership board and 15-member staff have a range of expertise that fulfils a remit to deliver work in conservation, education, climate resilience and sustainable development. The Biosphere is part of multi-sector collaborations covering more than 9,700km² of southwest Scotland across three local authority areas, and all initiatives are founded on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Among the organisation’s goals are further development of the D&G Climate Hub which got underway this month supported by funding from Scottish Government’s Let’s Do Net Zero campaign.
Looking ahead to December’s event, the Biosphere’s Director, Ed Forrest, said, “We’re delighted to be in Stranraer to review our highlights of 2023 hosted by Biosphere Proud Supporters D&G College, and look forward to welcoming the public to hear more about what UNESCO status means for the future of this very special region. Whether you’ve been following the UNESCO Biosphere story in recent months or years, or it’s a new discovery and you’d like to find out more about what we do, please do join our team to celebrate a fantastic twelve months.”
The Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere’s Year in Review will take place on Tuesday 5th December between 2pm – 4pm in the STEM Hub at Dumfries & Galloway College’s Stranraer campus. It’s free to book via Eventbrite, alternatively, please email [email protected] to reserve your place. More information about SW Scotland’s UNESCO designation is available at www.gsabiosphere.org.uk.
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