Caroline Macleod
March 2024
Biosphere Reserves are designated by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, a global body that seeks to build peace through cooperation in Education, the Sciences and Culture.
UNESCO Biospheres are internationally important natural and cultural environments, recognised as places where local communities have an aspiration to live sustainably within their local ecosystems.
Islanders and visitors are encouraged to read the Isle of Wight Biosphere Principles and consider how they can reflect these in their own lives.
The Isle of Wight Biosphere creates an exciting new relationship between people, places, climate and the natural world, extending fresh opportunities for community wealth and economic health.
We must seize these chances to create socially useful, culturally and environmentally productive work for a better future.
The values include:
Island Heritage: Encourage respect for over 3,000 protected areas, preserving natural and cultural diversity.
Nature Conservation: Protect and sustain biodiversity with over 15,000 recorded species, preventing neglect and destruction of habitats.
Ecosystem Restoration: Combat degradation caused by poor land management, development, and industry, understanding its role in climate breakdown.
Knowledge Sharing: Support participation in UNESCO Biosphere Reserve initiatives, fostering learning networks and community intelligence.
Local Distinctiveness: Celebrate unique cultural and natural characteristics, embracing traditions while striving for a better future.
Liveable Island: Design and manage communities for health, social justice, and prosperity, valuing sustainability and well-being for all.
New Economy: Foster community wealth and economic health through a symbiotic relationship with nature, creating socially useful work.
Climate Action: Support the Island’s mission towards net zero emissions by 2040, emphasising the interconnection of ecological, social, and climate concerns.
Future Generations: Prioritise long-term impacts of decisions, involving youth voices in safeguarding their interests and pioneering effective solutions.
The Isle of Wight Biosphere Festival will be a fun weekend of events all over the island, a chance for local businesses, organisations and communities to celebrate together the Biosphere status and everything it stands for: the islands unique combination of people, nature and place.
This June 29th and 30th the Biosphere Festival will be island wide, and will be a big and bold celebration of the islands natural diversity.
It will include a weekend of talks and workshops at the Quay Arts Centre in Newport which will be a mix of practical learning, family fun and exciting and novel explorations of what the Biosphere is all about.
Yes, everyone is welcome! Everything and everyone within the Biosphere is interconnected and has an impact on the rest of the Biosphere, whether it is in the countryside, towns and villages, or in the seas, or people who have been living on the Island all their life, or people visiting for the day. Everyone is encouraged to join in and learn more about the positive impact they can have.
There have been islanders living and working in connection with nature here for many hundreds of years and today there are many individuals, communities, businesses and organisations who are still doing so, who are actively working to protect everything that is special about the island, even improving it for future generations. The Biosphere Festival is a celebration of all of that, together in collaboration as well as in our own locally distinctive ways. Everyone is invited to join in the celebrations. To find out more about the festival visit here.
Looking for inspiration? Look through our photos and videos of the Isle of Wight and see the beautiful scenery waiting to be explored. Visit photo wall
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Unleash the spirit of exploration with day trips and holiday planners helping you find things to see and do during your visit – our budget-friendly, tried-and-tested recommendations cater to families and adventure seekers alike. Check them out!
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All images original and protected by copyright 2024 – they are our own, taken by our fair hands – all rights reserved Isle of Wight Island Soul. To request any omissions, changes or notify us of errors please contact us. We try our best to keep all information as up to date as possible, but due to the seasonal nature of many businesses details may change at short notice, please check before you travel.
