The North Devon UNESCO Biosphere Partnership has published a new Impact Report highlighting the achievements, partnerships and projects that have helped shape a more sustainable future for Northern Devon over the last decade.
The report showcases how communities, businesses, farmers, researchers, charities and public bodies have worked together to deliver positive change across the region. From habitat restoration and river improvement projects to innovative approaches to climate resilience, sustainable development and community engagement, the report demonstrates the power of partnership working at landscape scale. From peatlands, culm grasslands and Atlantic oak woodlands, including globally important temperate rainforest, to saltmarsh, dunes, coastal cliffs and waters and the deep seas beyond Lundy, the report highlights the collective effort to protect and restore some of Northern Devon's most important habitats and wildlife.
Guided by evidence, innovation and collaboration, the Partnership has brought together communities, organisations and expertise to tackle complex challenges across Northern Devon. Working from source to sea, it takes a whole-catchment approach, recognising that the landscapes, rivers, estuaries and marine environments that define the Biosphere are part of one interconnected system.
While focusing on the last ten years, the report builds on more than half a century of collaboration within the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere. It highlights how collective action has delivered meaningful impact while laying strong foundations for the Partnership's shared ten-year strategy.
Andy Bell, CEO North Devon Biosphere Foundation, said: "This report tells the story of what can be achieved when organisations and communities come together around a shared vision for sustainable development and nature recovery. The achievements featured in these pages belong to many different partners, volunteers and supporters who have worked tirelessly to make a difference. We hope the report not only celebrates what has been achieved so far, but also inspires others to be part of the next chapter in North Devon's UNESCO Biosphere story."
The report is available to download from https://www.
While the report reflects on a decade of achievement, it is also an invitation to shape the future. As part of UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves, North Devon exists to bring people together, share learning and demonstrate practical solutions to global challenges at a local scale. We encourage everyone with an interest in sustainable development, nature recovery, climate resilience and thriving communities to explore the report and consider how they can contribute to our shared ambitions.
The achievements celebrated in this report are not the end of the story. They are the foundation for what comes next. Together, we have shown what partnership working can achieve. Now is the time to build on that success, inspire new voices, attract new support and invite more people to join us on the journey towards a thriving future for Northern Devon, where people and nature flourish together.