This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Four biosphere reserves delisted
26/03/2002
Four of the eight biosphere reserves in Scotland have
been removed from the World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
This emphasises the Executive's commitment to ensuring that
natural heritage designations are only used where they
serve a useful purpose.
A review of all 13 biosphere reserves in the UK has
taken place and, following consultation with national and
local interests, it has been decided that St Kilda, Rum,
Claish Moss and Caerlaverock no longer meet the criteria
for inclusion in the Network.
Commenting on the decision, Mr Allan Wilson, Deputy
Minister for Environment and Rural Development, said:
"Designations are important in the recognition and
protection of our most important areas of natural heritage.
There are a large number of different designations
currently in operation in Scotland but any designation must
be appropriate to the site in question. It is clear that St
Kilda, Rum, Claish Moss and Caerlaverock no longer meet the
criteria for listing as biosphere reserves. This is no
reflection on the importance of these sites, and they will
continue to receive protection under other
designations."
The four remaining Scottish biosphere reserves are Beinn
Eighe, Taynish, Loch Druidibeg and Cairnsmore of
Fleet/Merrick Kells/Silver Flowe. Although the review has
demonstrated that none of these sites currently meets in
full the biosphere reserve criteria, Scottish Natural
Heritage will be considering how they might be restructured
with a view to continuing as part of the World Network of
Biosphere Reserves.
Biosphere reserves are areas nominated by national
governments and designated under the Man and the Biosphere
(MAB) programme of the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). Since the
establishment of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves in
1976, UNESCO has designated 368 sites in 91 countries. The
13 reserves in the UK were designated in 1976 and 1977, and
all carry other national, European or international
conservation designations.
Since the late 1970s the intended functions of biosphere
reserves have changed significantly with a greater focus on
sustainable development, research, training and education
in addition to conservation. Revised criteria for biosphere
reserves were agreed by UNESCO in 1995, and many of the
original reserves do not match the new criteria.
In reviewing the UK reserves the Government commissioned
a report from Dr Martin Price, then of the Climate Change
Unit at Oxford University, now of the University of the
Highlands and Islands based at Perth College. Following
consultation at both the national and local level, Scottish
Ministers decided that St Kilda, Rum, Claish Moss and
Caerlaverock had little or no potential to meet the new
criteria, and should be removed from the list of biosphere
reserves. Although the remaining 4 Scottish sites currently
also do not meet the criteria, they do have the potential
for restructuring in ways that would allow them to continue
as biosphere reserves, and Scottish Natural Heritage is
giving this further consideration.
The decision to remove the 4 sites from the World
Network of Biosphere Reserves is to be reported to the
meeting of the MAB International Co-ordinating Council
meeting in Paris on 19
th March.