Conference 2003
Greening the City:
Bringing Biodiversity Back
into the Urban Environment
Abstract:
Urban
Bioregional Planning for Working Landscapes: Biosphere Reserves
Re-visited
Kate Matysek (Centre for Environmental Studies, University of Tasmania,
Hobart, Australia)
Australia
became a signatory to the UNESCO / MAB Biosphere Reserve Program
in 1977 and twelve Biosphere Reserve sites were nominated over the
following five years. Very little development of the Program followed.
Limited success can be attributed to a number of factors including
preoccupation by relevant government authorities with protection
through the National Park and World Heritage Area designations.
The
objective of this paper is to compare existing (old) Australian
Biosphere Reserves to the urban and peri-urban (new) Biosphere Reserves.
An examination of the theoretical framework of which Biosphere Reserves
are a part provides a context to further discussion. The old and
new approaches to Biosphere Reserves in Australia are discussed
and the principle factor in their success is highlighted. Application
of the Biosphere Reserve concept in an urban and peri-urban bioregion
is illustrated through a case study of the Mornington Peninsula
- Western Port Urban Biosphere Reserve.
This
paper argues that two very different approaches are adopted for
Biosphere Reserves in Australia. Old designations have floundered
in the absence of government support due to little understanding
or concern for the concept, or perception of duplicate titles in
the case of National Parks or World Heritage status. In contrast,
the urban and peri-urban Biosphere Reserve is a community driven
initiative, derived at a bioregional level for the long-term fulfilment
of mutual directives regarding environmental and social community
goals.
The
Biosphere Reserve Program provides a framework for achievement of
catchment management objectives and incremental conservation practices
in working landscapes. The success of new Biosphere Reserves depends
strongly upon community drivers and regional visions; Commonwealth
dissemination of the Biosphere Reserve Program; and State and Local
Government support and prioritisation for integrative local conservation.
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