UK Biosphere Reserves: status, opportunities and potential A review and assessment against the criteria set out in Article 4 of the Statutory Framework of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves Photo © Copyright Chris Purslow and licensed for reuse under a Creative Commons Licence. Taynish and Mid-Argyll A Report by Hambrey Consulting for DEFRA/UKMAB April 2009 www.hambreyconsulting.co.uk 1 Contents 1 Summary .............................................................................................................. 3 2 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 4 2.1 The origin and nature of biosphere reserves ............................................... 4 2.2 Status of BRs in the UK ............................................................................... 5 2.3 Purpose and structure of this report ............................................................ 5 3 The status and functioning of the existing Biosphere Reserve .................... 6 4 Alternatives and opportunities for a future Biosphere Reserve in the area 7 4.1 Overview of the area, people, economy and ecology ................................. 7 4.2 Outcome of the scoping meeting – interest in taking this forward ............... 9 4.3 Possible alternatives in terms of area and scope ........................................ 9 5 Assessment of alternatives against Article 4 Criteria .................................. 12 5.1 Ecological systems: ................................................................................... 12 5.1.1 Existing BR ............................................................................................ 12 5.1.2 Local BR ................................................................................................ 12 5.1.3 Regional BR .......................................................................................... 12 5.2 Biodiversity ................................................................................................ 13 5.2.1 Existing BR ............................................................................................ 13 5.2.2 Local BR ................................................................................................ 13 5.2.3 Regional BR .......................................................................................... 13 5.3 Regional sustainable development: .......................................................... 13 5.3.1 Existing BR ............................................................................................ 13 5.3.2 Local BR ................................................................................................ 14 5.3.3 Regional BR .......................................................................................... 14 5.4 Size and functions: .................................................................................... 15 5.4.1 Existing BR ............................................................................................ 15 5.4.2 Local BR ................................................................................................ 15 5.4.3 Regional BR .......................................................................................... 15 5.5 Zonation .................................................................................................... 16 5.6 Organisation .............................................................................................. 17 5.7 Additional necessary provisions ................................................................ 17 5.8 Summary ................................................................................................... 19 6 Potential social, economic and environmental benefit of a new-style Biosphere Reserve based on Taynish NNR ......................................................... 20 6.1 Assessment against sustainability criteria ................................................. 20 6.2 Strengths and weaknesses of future alternatives ...................................... 24 Annex 1: Report of initial scoping meeting .......................................................... 25 Annex 2: Ecological information ........................................................................... 28 Annex 3: Social and economic information ......................................................... 34 Annex 4: Recent community, educational and research activities. .................. 37 2 1 Summary 1. The existing Biosphere Reserve (BR) at Taynish in mid-Argyll no longer meets the revised UNESCO criteria. Although of exceptional ecological quality it fails to encompass sufficient gradation of human intervention or opportunity for sustainable development. 2. Although it might be possible to re-designate a Biosphere over a larger area, with the existing Biosphere Reserve serving as the core area, the configuration of such a BR is not obvious and local support for the idea appears to be limited. 3. This report makes a preliminary assessment of the potential of two alternative extended areas in terms of rating against the UNESCO BR criteria, and in terms of potential social, economic and environmental benefit. 4. The current BR (also a National Nature Reserve NNR) itself well meets the criteria for a core area. There are sufficient SSSIs in the surrounding area to achieve a satisfactory, if somewhat scattered buffer zone without affecting existing land management or causing local inconvenience. 5. The scope and extent of a wider transition zone is less obvious (taking into account cultural, ecological, geographic, demographic and economic factors). Possibilities include a modest area encompassing Knapdale, and across east to Lochgilphead and north to the Crinan Canal; or a much larger area covering the whole of mid-Argyll. 6. In terms of ecological quality these larger areas would score well against the UNESCO criteria, and existing conservation management is relatively strong; but the potential for added value in terms of the promotion of sustainable development, education and awareness is less clear. 7. Taynish BR/NNR itself is literally out on a limb. Although a tiny gem of an NNR, it is not significant in economic or land-use terms, it can only be accessed with difficulty, and it is not well known. 8. Potential organisational arrangements are also uncertain. Our initial impression is that local organisations that might be involved in a BR are not particularly enthusiastic. The Dalriada Project in neighbouring Kilmartin is relevant here. This is a landscape based sustainable development initiative with many similar objectives to those of a BR. It has received council backing and significant lottery funding. Our impression is that there is limited appetite for an additional similar initiative 3 2 Introduction 2.1 The origin and nature of biosphere reserves The origin of Biosphere Reserves goes back to the "Biosphere Conference" organized by UNESCO in 1968, the first intergovernmental conference to seek to reconcile the conservation and use of natural resources, thereby foreshadowing the present-day notion of sustainable development1. In 1973, the concept of Biosphere Reserves was formally established within UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) programme. Their functions were to conserve biodiversity and provide facilities for research, education and training. The MAB philosophy and programme was substantially revised at the 1995 Seville Conference that created a "Statutory Framework of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves” and associated criteria for designation. According to Article 3 of this framework, Biosphere Reserves (BRs) are expected to be “sites of excellence to explore and demonstrate conservation and sustainable development on a regional scale”. BRs are expected to combine three functions: conservation; sustainable development; and logistic support (education, training, exchange etc) Management of BRs is conceived within a threefold zonation – a core zone of high biodiversity value subject to some form of legal protection; a buffer zone managed in such a way as to secure the qualities of the core while at the same time encouraging sustainable use; and a transition zone, which may include urban areas, in which the ethos of sustainable development can be pursued more broadly, and where the links and inter-dependencies with the core and buffer zones can be explored and demonstrated. The most recent interpretation of the nature and purpose of biosphere reserves is to be found in the Madrid Action Plan2 , which includes the following vision statement: “The World Network of Biosphere Reserves of the Man and the Biosphere Programme consists of sites of excellence to foster harmonious integration of people and nature for sustainable development through participation, knowledge, well-being, cultural values and society’s ability to cope with change, thus contributing to the [Millennium Development Goals]”. The term Biosphere Reserve is therefore a misnomer: the designation is neither restrictive nor exclusive, except in so far as a legally designated core zone is required. Taken as a whole it is not a protected area as defined by IUCN. Rather it is the only global designation – or accreditation – for an area demonstrating excellence in sustainable development in practice. Governance of Biosphere Reserves is highly variable, ranging from relatively autonomous facilitating teams, through a variety of representative and participatory structures, to relatively formal and powerful