Moen Biosphere Reserve DEVELOPMENT AND ACTION PLAN, 2017 - 2022 vordingborg.dk/biosfaere-moen/ Title: Development and Action Plan, 2017 - 2022, Moen Biosphere Reserve This Development and Action Plan is submitted by the Municipality of Vordingborg, Department of Strategy and Implementation, Moen Biosphere Secretariat Cover Photo: Thomas ix Photographies: Morten Pihl, Elo Mortensen, Søren Larsen, Jens Refstrup, Tom Axelsen, Thomas Ix, Annette Tenberg, Vordingborg Kommune MØN BIOSFÆRE Moen Biosphere Reserve DEVELOPMENT AND ACTION PLAN OF THE PROPOSED MOEN BIOSPHERE RESERVE As an island and community, Moen is already well-rooted in the developmental ideas behind the UNESCO Biosphere Program- me. People, authorities and businesses have a fundamental respect for the nature they live in and an understanding of nature’s contribution to the local economy. In the preparatory work, we have already documented a number of activities, which are in line with the sustainable development that Moen Biosphere Reserve is working to achieve. Now we will use the Biosphere Programme as the unifying and guiding vision for these activities as well as a basis for the future collaboration between the active participants. This first development and action plan for Moen Biosphere focuses on four main elements: 1. Creation of an operational organization and an efficient collaboration between the active participants. 2. Promotion of the Biosphere idea, within the local community and to visitors. 3. Cooperation with the UNESCO biosphere network. 4. Planning and implementation of the developmental projects first identified. The development and action plan is the most important tool in cooperation with UNESCO’s review of the Biosphere Project, which will take place every 10th year. The process is documented by internal annual reports, and at the same time by review of the development and action plan every five years. In this way, we will all keep focus on the set direction. The development plan is based on the three main functions of UNESCO Biosphere Programme: ‘Conservation, Education/Support and Development’; and relates these elements to the designated areas of Moen Biosphere. These are Land, Water and The dark Night Sky. Changes take time and as such, this kind of long-term management and planning is required. With this development and action plan, Vordingborg Municipality undertake the obligation to work with both long-term strategic planning, operational planning and implementation of specific activities. Jan Michelsen Director of Development in the Municipality of Vordingborg and chairman of the Advisory Board for the proposed Moen Biosphere Reserve Vordingborg, in February 2017 CONTENTS 1. About the proposed Moen Biosphere Reserve The vision The nature The culture The people 2. Organisation and collaboration Ownership and anchoring That’s why the MAB programme is a good tool The international anchoring of the proposed Moen Biosphere Reserve The local partnership in the proposed Moen Biosphere Reserve and Advisory Board 2.1 Participation, anchoring in the local community The biosphere secretariat Branding workshops: ‘Telling our own sustainable story’ Ambassador network Network of companies and the trade association Signature event for the proposed Moen Biosphere Reserve Communication 3. Conservation Projects on land in the proposed Moen Biosphere Reserve, 2016-2022 Projects for the waters and coastal areas, 2016-2022 Implementing of the Dark Sky Park and Community, 2017-18 4. Development The Nordic Biosphere Centre vordingborg.dk/biosfaere-moen/ Development projects 5. Training and support The Outdoor school The Forrest Helpers Guide-/Ambassador training Scientific conferences 6. International cooperation Participation in and support of the UNESCO biosphere network in 2017 7. Annexes 1. ABOUT THE PROPOSED MOEN BIOSPHERE RESERVE The vision Our vision is that the area suggested to be the Moen Biosphere Chapter three, four and five describe specific projects and -ac Reserve will become an internationally-known example of sus- tivities related to UNESCO’s three core values for biosphere re- tainably managed coastal nature in Scandinavia. We will test serves: conservation (of nature, landscapes and biodiversity), and demonstrate methods that combine the conservation of development (of sustainable use of the land, nature tourism, biological diversity of nature with sustainable working and living. etc.) and learning and support (education, training, social jobs We have given Moen Biosphere Reserve the following motto: and additional knowledge through research). ‘We take local responsibility for the community, quality of life and growth in respect with nature’. We have in the last two years encountered strong support from UNESCO MAB Council, the Danish UNESCO National Commis- In 2015, when Vordingborg Municipality initiated the dialogue sion, the Nordic MAB network as well as biosphere reserves with UNESCO on the potential and development of a biosphere in our neighbouring countries. Chapter 6 explains how we will reserve on Moen, it was in fact the beginning of the creation of work with the new international network for the benefit of Moen the first Biosphere Reserve in Denmark. Biosphere Reserve and a sustainable future. With this plan of action, we note that Moen Biosphere Reserve The appointment of Denmark’s first Biosphere Reserve on Moen has become a reality. will awaken broad national and international interest. We are Unique and well-preserved nature and culture, managed in line confident that we can to provide a relevant contribution to rural with national and international conventions, a strong local part- development on a national scale. Via Moen’s location between nership and the great support from the local population make the major European cities Copenhagen, Malmö, Hamburg and the foundation for the coming years of developmental work, Berlin, we will leave a significant imprint on the area of Fehmarn which this plan describes in the following chapters. Belt and the Region of the Sound. Chapter one describes our greatest resources: nature, culture The appointment of Moen Biosphere Reserve supports Vord- and people within the Moen Biosphere Reserve. ingborg Municipality’s Vision 2030; it will, together with the ap- pointment as a Dark Sky Park and Community, help to create Chapter two tells about anchoring and organizing local collab- the best conditions for the realization of the coastal destination orations as well as anchoring the Moen Biosphere Reserve na- Moens Klint, that is part of the national tourism strategy for the tionally and within the various professional networks of UNESCO. Danish coasts. 5 The nature The proposed area of Moen Biosphere Reserve includes the island of Moen as well as the surrounding islands and water areas. It will focus on the natural and cultural values connected to the land, the waters and the dark night sky. With nature cov- ering 450 square kilometres and the chalk cliffs of Moens Klint as a leading nature icon, nature here represents landscapes and natural values of international importance as well as most Danish habitats, both on land and in the water. Geomorphology and geology of the area and the diversity of waters with fresh, brackish and salt water have created unique environments for a rich biological variation, which contains a wide range of red-listed species. Five main types of landscape will be part of the future biosphere reserve: • Moens Klint and High Moen • The glacial landscapes at Western Moen with moraines, kettle holes, hat-shaped hills, melt water deposits and valleys • Post-glacial landscapes created through erosion and The culture transport of material as beach embankments and tidal meadows The archaeological and cultural values are high within the com- • Baltic Sea, inlets and coves ing Moen Biosphere Reserve. Both the towns and the open • 185 km of coastline with different types of landscape, land offer a rich cultural heritage, that bear witness to human which is still experiencing great change impact on the environment throughout the ages. Therefore, the cultural heritage is included in the designated Biosphere Re- serve on an equal level with the nature’s potential. The designated biosphere reserve includes four Natura 2000 areas and parts of a fifth, covering both core areas and buffer The centuries-old development as a predominantly farming zones. Together, these areas make 19,299 hectares of Moen community has remained the basis for the coherent cultural Biosphere Reserve, amounting to no less than 42%. The men- landscape. The proximity to the sea has promoted fishing, tioned Natura 2000 sites contain six EU habitat areas, one only shipping and trade and contributed to the creation of harbours partial, an EU bird protection area and parts of Ramsar areas. and the market town of Stege. Liselund Park is one of Scandi- Also included are two appointments of international geological navia’s most famous romantic gardens, built in the spirit of the interest (GeoSites), four national geological interest areas (NGI) Enlightenment Age and a direct neighbour to the wild nature of and four National coastal landscapes (NK) as well as parts of the chalk cliffs at Moens Klint. The memories of the Industrial two game preserves. time bear testament to the business community that has been the hallmark of the Danish islands in the past 100 years: agri- In the beginning of 2017, Moen and Nyord has been appointed culture, sugar industry and fishing. Denmark’s first Dark Sky Park and Community