Noosa Biosphere Reserve A Celebration of Community and Environment

Working together as a partnership of interests with the community, local government, industry, education groups and tourism.

• 875 square kilometres• 35% protected land such

as national parks, conservation parks, state forests, vacant crown land, lakes and streams

• Over 44% of all of Australia’s bird species

• 1,365 species of plants• 711 species of native

fauna• 60 distinct ecosystems.

Noosa achieved biosphere status in

September 2007 and was incorporated in

December 2008.

Biosphere area• UNESCO MaB program in 1971

– beyond environmental protection to recognise human wellbeing and relationship between people & environment

• 1980s-1990s – concept of sustainable development recognised as important

• 1995 – Seville strategy• 2000 Millenium development

goals – No 7 sustainability• 2008 Madrid Action Plan • 2014 – Evaluation of MAPThe Noosa

Biosphere one of 14 UNESCO

MaB reserves in Australia,

A history of community activism & government decisions

• Creation of national park• Lobbying to stop sand

mining• Creation of Cooloola and

Tewantin National Parks• Noosa Woods park and

vegetation• Environment levy

• Limits on high rise and developments

• No traffic lights – roundabouts• Living smart, Travel smart,

Ecobiz programs• Population ‘cap’ – planning

scheme zonings• Green Arts and cultural

programs – Floating Land

Conservation Sustainable development

Community forum &

engagement

Learning and research

Why Noosa?UNESCO in declaring the Noosa Biosphere Reserve particularly noted:– “a sophisticated level of human settlement and a

high level of inter-relationship with the natural environment.”

– “the strong sense of community involvement and community co-ordination over a broad range of human settlement and natural environment issues.”

An important component was the Noosa Planning Scheme which had been adopted by the former Noosa Council and the community sector board model.

Social

Economic

Tourism Noosa

Environment

Culture

Noosa Council

Previous Noosa Council Governance model

• Community sector boards with approx 10 reps each

• Councillors assigned to each board, council staff involved with each as well

• Advice provided to council• Strategies and projects operationalised by council• Supported by one staff secretariat member +

others through sector board activities • Budget + staff

Biosphere Governance

Social

Economic

Education R&D

Tourism

Environment

Culture

Community involvement through main board and 6 advisory sectors

11 member governance board drawn from the community (3) , sector boards (6) and Council (2)

Over 60 community volunteers contribute time and effort to benefit the biosphere

Social

Economic

Education R&D

Tourism

Environment

Culture

NBL Governance

Board

Balance-Unbalance

Conference & committee

Sustainable Tourism Working

party and activities

State of the Biosphere Report &

working party

BISN: Centre of Excellent working

party Biosphere Festival & working party

Voices of the Biosphere

Radio program

NBL Current model & related working parties & projects

Information sessions &

programs for international

visitors

Partners program

• 2 Councillors were on Governance Board

• Advice provided to council

• Strategies and projects operationalised by boards and partners

• Supported by 1.6 staff secretariat

• Budget allocation from Council for operations and projects (Estimate community in kind contribution $314,840)

Sample projects

Communications Director & Web

Managers

BISN – Biosphere Institute for

Sustainability Noosa planning

People know the Biosphere is good for business

Quality/principled tourism & businesses,You can buy quality locally produced

products/gifts featuring local designs Businesses are proud of their accreditation

by Noosa BiosphereRetailers have biosphere logo and they

enact what it means – staff know what it mean

People are coming here because we are a destination of choice for sustainable tourism

The Noosa Biosphere brand is known

Well designed signage and interpretive maps in important

destinations & places Bins are branded

Biosphere Art Prize and exhibitions promote local arts and culture

Online presence is pervasive

People are proud of their Biosphere People know that environment and people can co-exist People are involved in and talking about biosphere projectsPeople know the story and what UNESCO MaB status meansPeople are consciously making an effort to conserve and sustain & to communicate knowledge (Biosphere principles)Local schools have biosphere information in their curriculum and are proud of itPositive relationships with different levels of GovernmentUNESCO acknowledges our reputation & part we play in the strong network of Biosphere Reserves

People understand their environment…Knowledge about local environment, birds, animals, the community available in multiple formsRegular workshop and seminar series, biennial conference Wide range of studies, Masters and PhDs completed around Biosphere topicsGraduates of Biosphere learning and programs are in the community and around the worldKnowledge of Indigenous peoples & culture embedded in learning programs

People are actively engaged in Biosphere activitiesExtensive partnership and membership base of individuals, businesses, organisations and community groupsInvolved in Biosphere related programs, Acting for sustainability High levels of accreditation in programs such as Ecobiz, Living Smart, The Glossies Network Social diversity visible in the community and Noosa Biosphere activitiesTourism operators say ‘Welcome to the Biosphere’, and know what it means

People live in the iconic landscapesQuality, sustainable design in built environment

Planning Scheme (residential development, whole built environment) reflects Biosphere Reserve

principles Iconic natural landscapes is protected and

maintainedHealthy Indigenous landscape

Noosa Biosphere collaborative action for a

healthy community and

place

Our goals for 2018 …

Collaborative action for a healthy Noosa Biosphere Reserve

1. Awareness, advocacy and communications about the value and potential of the Noosa Biosphere Reserve and the principles of sustainability to local, national and international communities

2. Knowledge generation and sharing including research, monitoring and measurement processes as a means of building a knowledge base, gauging progress, identifying priorities and galvanising effort

3. Innovative projects and action for a healthy community, economy, environment and place.

4. Good governance and partnerships to maximise efforts for achieving the biosphere principles of conservation, sustainable development and learning.

Operational Plan focus areas

Examples of projects1. NOOSA BIOSPHERE FESTIVAL2. NOOSA CLIMATE ACTION PLAN3. STATE OF THE BIOSPHERE REPORT4. BALANCE / UNBALANCE

CONFERENCE 2013 5. BIOSPHERE INSTITUTE FOR

SUSTAINABILITY - NOOSA

6. BIOSPHERE ART PRIZE 7. CHRISTY FELLLOWS SCHOOLS

AWARD 8. ECONOMIC FORUMS 9. SCHOOLS INITIATIVE –

WORKSHOPS, CURRICULUM MAPPING

10. SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AND CERTIFICTION REPORT

11. INTERNATIONAL VISITATIONS (ECO-EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT)

Increasing recognition on the international scene – participation in UNESCO MaB network meetings 2013

Sustainable Tourism • Sustainable Tourism working

party • Certification research and

report• Communications project• Australia’s Nature Coast –

partnership with Great Sandy Biosphere , Fraser Coast, SCDL, & Gympie

• Global eco-tourism conference in November

Noosa Climate Action Plan - Partnership with SEQ Catchments and community groups

Environmental projects and partnerships – e.g. ‘Fall of the Singapore Daisy’ with NICA, Noosa & District Landcare, Sunshine Beach Surf Club, Sunshine Beach Bushland Care Group & Environment Board NBL

Biosphere Report Card The Brief:• A set of performance indicators relating to

UNESCO Biosphere principles and relevant to Noosa Biosphere Reserve to be identified, analysed and presented in a report.

• Indicators should cover the environmental, educational, social, cultural and economic health of the biosphere.

• Sourced from existing reliable, reputable sources. Must be relevant, verifiable and repeatable.

• The report must provide information that can be presented to the public in a simple, concise, engaging and easily-accessible format

State of the Biosphere Report CardThe Spirit of the Biosphere…• We… give back (volunteers, conservation)

• We… tread lightly (waterways, land use)

• We… choose wisely (transport, waste management)

• We… think positively (bus.confidence, GRP)

• We… join in (events, partners)

• We… create change (ecobiz, Living Smart)

• We… welcome others (Welcome to Noosa, Noosa attributes)

• We… foster creativity (funding, Floating Land, Bal-Unbal)

Biosphere Partners - criteria for partnership

• Embrace the values and principles of the Noosa Biosphere in their approach to being who they are and what they do

• Participate with Noosa Biosphere on activities that deliver outcomes relevant to the community, industry and business

• exhibit good stewardship of the environment, conservation, preservation and sustainability of endeavour

• Promote the values and principles of biosphere to their staff, customers and others

• Reducing carbon footprint and encouraging others to also seek best-practice outcomes

• Support Noosa Biosphere in its endeavours wherever practical and possible.

Biosphere Partners Phase

I, II & III • Noosa and District Landcare • Noosa Integrated Catchment

Association• SEQ Catchments • Noosa Residents and

Ratepayers • University of the Sunshine

Coast • Sunshine Coast Institute of

TAFE • Sheraton Noosa Resort and

Spa • The Original Eumundi Markets • Noosa Federation of the Arts

• CQUniversity Noosa• Noosa Ferries• Noosa Outrigger• Noosa, Sunshine Beach

and Peregian Surf Clubs• Tourism Noosa• Wildlife Rehabilitation

Centre

• Bark Design Architects• Creative Alliance -

Sunshine Coast• Kanu Kapers• Kayak Noosa• Kin Kin State School• Noosa Community Training

Centre (Brite Side Industries)

• Noosa Longboards• Noosa Museum• Slow Food Noosa & the

Noosa Community Garden• The Outdoor Education

Consultants

Biosphere Partners & inaugural Biosphere Art Prize Winners – Bark Design

Art/Science/Environment programs – Balance/Unbalance International Conference 2013Floating Land Green Art Festival - biennial

Dynamic Website

Information Channels

Voices in the Biosphere Weekly ~ 2 hr live

New Infosheets

Community Festival

SEPTEMBER

We welcome everyone to cultivate ‘the Spirit of the Bioshere’

We look forward to the next phase of our biosphere reserve journey …