Reserve under UN spotlight

The Fitzgerald Biosphere has retained international significance after United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation approved the site as a biosphere reserve this month.

Located 180km north-east of Albany, the 1.5 million hectare reserve includes the heritage-listed Fitzgerald River National Park.

The Fitzgerald River was first designated a biosphere reserve in 1978 by UNESCO but the site failed to meet criteria introduced in 1996.

Biosphere reserves are defined as sites across the world established to promote sustainable development based on community efforts and sound science.

Now, after decades of work, the Fitzgerald Biosphere has been approved by The Man and the Biospheres council at the Paris meeting.

The MAB council also approved an extension to the Fitzgerald Biosphere which will now cover part of the Pallinup River and State Waters off the Bremer Bay coast.

Fitzgerald Biosphere spokesman Nathan McQuoid said the area was globally significant for its natural diversity and the renomination will ensure the site continued to be recognised.

“This area has an international brand because it has very famous nature; we wanted to maintain that brand for tourism and to recognise efforts to go into landcare,” he said.

“That profile brings extra scrutiny and greater need to care for it and helps people interact sustainably with it. It’s a broad benefit, it adds to our region and it’s a big deal for our region.”

The biosphere is made up of three key zones: the Fitzgerald River core zone, a conservation area which is legally protected; the buffer zone where activities compatible with conservation occur; and the transition zone such as private land, farms, industrial and urban areas, where sustainable practices are developed and promoted by the community.

Member for O’Connor Rick Wilson applauded community efforts for the reinstatement and the vast regional benefits the recognition will bring.

“This inclusion puts the Fitzgerald River National Park on the world stage — it’s going to boost tourism and attract a high standard of scientific research to the region,” he said.

“It also ensures any development on the outer regions of the biosphere will be managed in a sustainable fashion in consultation with the community.”

The process has involved a number of parties, including the Biosphere Implementation Group, formed in 2010 by the Fitzgerald Biosphere Group, Ravensthorpe Agricultural Initiative Network, Shire of Jerramungup, Shire of Ravensthorpe, Department of Parks and Wildlife, Department of Agriculture and Food, South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council and local Noongar representatives.

It is supported by the Great Southern Development Commission, Goldfields Esperance Development Commission and South Coast NRM.