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• Where did the idea come from that the ACT could become a biosphere reserve? Click here
• Where are Australia's biosphere reserves? Click here
• What has been achieved in other biosphere reserves? Click here
• Why should the ACT, of all places, be a biosphere reserve? Click here
• If the ACT was a Biosphere Reserve, would this attract skilled people? Click here
• Will having the ACT as a biosphere reserve interfere with growth? Click here
• What are the arguments against the ACT becoming a biosphere reserve? Click here
• How much will it cost and who will pay? Click here
• Who sets the rules for biosphere reserves? Click here
• What changes will Canberrans notice when the ACT becomes a biosphere reserve? Click here
• Will a biosphere reserve impact on feral animals and plants? Click here
• How can I become involved in the ACT nomination? Click here
• How can I stay informed about progress with proposal for the ACT to be nominated as a biosphere reserve? Click here
Where did the idea come from that the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) could become a biosphere reserve?
As far as is known, the idea was first raised in about 2001 by Mr Ian Anderson, then from the Australian National University Centre for UNESCO in Canberra. He was attending an adult education course organised by Nature and Society Forum (NSF) through the ANU Centre for Continuing Education. The course presenter was Professor Stephen Boyden, founder of the Nature and Society Forum. Mr Anderson made the suggestion as a contribution to a group discussion about possible future directions to help achieve the goal of NSF, Healthy People on a Healthy Planet.
Where are Australia's biosphere reserves?
Australia's biosphere reserves are listed here.
What has been achieved in other biosphere reserves?
Biosphere reserves overseas are all "works in progress". Here are examples with images:
Germany - Schorfheide-Chorin
Britain - Lower Yelland Farm
South Africa - Cape West Coast Biosphere
A report of a bicycle tour through 18 biosphere reserves - with images - is here
Why should the ACT, of all places, be a biosphere reserve?
The ACT fits the current model of a biosphere reserve well. It has significant natural areas, about 50 per cent of the Territory, of high conservation value. These can form the core zone of the biosphere reserve.
Its catchments are part of Australia's largest and most important river system, the Murray-Darling Basin. Canberra provides opportunities for best practice management of water resources which could be of interest to other biosphere reserves.
It has a significant population and can be a model for promoting sustainable development. The main population centre, Canberra, the national seat of Government, has been designed as far as possible to be in harmony with the environment. New Parliament House is an example of this. Canberra is sometimes described as the "bush capital". For an elaboration of this argument see this talk by Brendan Mackey.
Canberra has outstanding education and research facilities suited to teaching about and experimenting with aspects of sustainable development. Biosphere reserve status should enhance their international appeal.
In some other countries, multinational biosphere reserves have been valuable in helping resolve cross-border challenges extending across international boundaries, such as large international wetlands. The ACT, surrounded by the State of New South Wales, also has cross border challenges to resolve. An example is supplying water to nearby towns in New South Wales. In addition, within the ACT itself, the ACT Government and the Commonwealth (National Capital Authority) need to work together and resolve differences. An ACT biosphere reserve would have the potential to provide an additional mechanism for resolving differences in favour of the common good.
Having the ACT accepted as a biosphere reserve would raise the international profile of the ACT. There could be opportunities for twinning with biosphere reserves in other countries, with mutual benefit.
An ACT biosphere reserve could be a particularly valuable resource in future as climate change and especially global warming become more apparent. Solutions will be needed on a global scale. By being a member of the global network of biosphere reserves, the ACT will have an increased chance to influence global responses to these challenges.
It would be something of a coup not only for the ACT but for Australia as a whole if the national capital was to become the first capital city in the world to be accepted as a biosphere reserve. There are other competitors interested in becoming the first national capital biosphere reserve, though it doubtful they would be as suitable as Canberra. It seems good policy to proceed with a nomination as soon as conveniently possible, should the ACT Government decide to support it.
Biosphere reserves can be expanded in area after the initial approval by UNESCO, so it could be feasible at some later stage to add relevant areas of New South Wales to the formal ACT biosphere reserve area. To attempt to do this in the initial submission to UNESCO could significantly delay the nomination process as the New South Wales Government would also need to be directly involved in the preparation of the nomination. In the meantime New South Wales could informally be part of a working biosphere reserve.
If the ACT was a Biosphere Reserve, would this attract skilled people to relocate here?
Canberra is competing internationally for academics, entrepreneurs, scientists, artists, managers and other 'creatives'. Having the ACT as a biosphere reserves could be expected to add to the appeal of Canberra as a place for families to settle from overseas. For a vision of how this could apply in the ACT see this talk by Brendan Mackey.
Will having the ACT as a biosphere reserve interfere with growth?
Having the ACT as a biosphere reserve should promote sustainable growth.
Decisions on sustainable development or growth would continue to be made locally by interested parties. There is no specific control exerted from abroad on biosphere reserves.
What are the arguments against the ACT becoming a biosphere reserve?
There appear to be no disadvantages apart from basic administrative cost (see below).
How much will it cost and who will pay?
The biosphere reserve, if it is to be effective, will need funding to cover ongoing administrative costs in addition to one-off staff costs for preparing the nomination.
Under the preferred biosphere reserve model of the Nature and Society Forum, a network of representatives of interested parties would be established, administered by a Secretariat of one or two people. The Secretariat should be funded jointly by both the ACT and Federal Governments, perhaps through annual grants. There may be scope for private donations to a general purpose fund. Such a fund might increase the scope of international exchanges and other specific projects.
Who sets the rules for biosphere reserves?
A biosphere reserve should satisfy UNESCO's basic criteria such as being divided up into core, buffer and transition zones. It should clearly promote sustainable human activity or aspire to do so. It should also encourage protection of the environment, especially the flora and fauna of a particular biogeographic region. A reserve would in general need the support of its national government in which it is located as UNESCO is an intergovernmental organisation.
UNESCO has a regular system of review of individual biosphere reserves at internals of about ten years to check them against the main criteria of biosphere reserves. This review conducted by the respective member state and/or individual biosphere reserves, with the encouragement of UNESCO. UNESCO is loath to impose any qualifications or make judgements on biosphere reserves in individual countries although it may encourage certain steps by a member state such as delisting a non-functioning biosphere reserve.
Essentially biosphere reserves are what each individual biosphere reserve and the Government of the country in which it is located make of it.
What changes will Canberrans notice when the ACT becomes a biosphere reserve?
In many ways the ACT is already functioning as a biosphere reserve. Its "city state" structure, administered by two Government jurisdictions together with being surrounded by a much larger State (New South Wales) has meant that there are already extensive consultation mechanisms in place for new developments. This is not to say that they cannot be improved.
One major change is likely to be increased international linkages. For a vision of what this could entail, see this talk by Brendan Mackey. For a broad vision of the ACT as a biosphere reserve, see this statement.
This could be particularly valuable if global events such as climate change/global warming become more influential in the years ahead, as predicted.
Another change is likely to be a gradual raising of awareness, right across the community, of the importance of the natural environment - especially the local environment - for human health and long term well-being.
The definition of what is sustainable may need to be revisited from time to time. The biosphere reserve can assist in this process.
Will a biosphere reserve impact on feral animals and plants?
Possibly, but not necessarily. Remember, the ACT will set its own rules for how it manages itself as a biosphere reserve (see our introductory page). Remember, too, that not all non-native species are feral. For example, there is no reason why the imported tree species of inner Canberra should be threatened (although many imported plants have been declared 'weeds' for years). Likewise, farm animals and pets (although Canberra's new suburbs of Forde and Bonner will have constraints on how people look after their cats).
How can I become involved in the ACT nomination?
The ACT Government has not yet made a final decision to nominate. No Secretariat has therefore yet been appointed for the biosphere reserve. In the meantime a short-term consultant, Ms Susan Abbott, was been appointed by the Conservation Council of the South-east Region and Canberra to facilitate community consultation on the project. The telephone number of the Conservation Council is 02-6247 7808. Nature and Society Forum can be contacted here.
How can I stay informed about progress with proposal for the ACT to be nominated as a biosphere reserve?
The best way is through joining Nature and Society Forum. Developments will be reported regularly in Nature and Society, NSF's journal. Further information on the ACT nomination is available on the website of the ACT government inquiry into the nomination.
Biosphere reserve home
Updated 26 August 2007. For more information about the biosphere reserve nomination, e-mail our office