The Tilba District is renowned as one of the most beautiful parts of Australia with National Parks, beaches and rocky coves, plentiful birds, animals and plant life, productive agricultural land and rich Indigenous and modern history.
As a result, it is a popular place to live, work and play with tourists visiting the area each year to join local residents in the villages of Central Tilba, Tilba Tilba and Mystery Bay who enjoy the region year-round.
When the Tilba District Chamber of Commerce undertook community consultation last year as part of a Strategic Plan for the area, there was strong community concern for the protection and enhancement of the natural environment of the Tilba District whilst balancing the need to be able to live, work and play in the area in a sustainable way, for the benefit of current and future generations.
That Strategic Plan is now being implemented and one key idea is to discuss how best to achieve the community’s goal, including considering whether having the area declared as a Biosphere Reserve would be a valuable step in that direction. This idea was introduced into the Strategic Plan by Tilba Environment Landcarers.
Biosphere Reserves are UNESCO-endorsed areas of terrestrial, marine and coastal ecosystems managed with the aim of balancing biodiversity, conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources.
The aim of a Biosphere Reserve is to safeguard natural ecosystems and biodiversity, as well as to improve human livelihoods and protect ecosystems managed for human use. The reserves promote environmentally sustainable economic development which is socially and culturally appropriate.
Biosphere Reserves are not another layer of bureaucracy – quite the opposite. The decision to become and then abide by the ethos of a Biosphere Reserve is a community-driven process.
There are many Biosphere Reserves across the world. The latest Australian Biosphere Reserve, on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, was declared in June this year where it joins two neighbouring Reserves in Noosa and the Fraser Island area.
To start the conversation about Biosphere Reserves and to discuss the possible future direction for the Tilba District, a forum will be held at the Central Tilba Hall on Monday 17 October 2022 from 1.30 pm to 4.00 pm following a free lunch from 12.45pm.
Speakers will include leading expert in the area Professor Peter Bridgewater from the ANU, who has years of experience working with UNESCO and engaging with other Australian accredited Biosphere Reserves, and Mr David Moore from Sunshine Coast Regional Council who will explain the process and their reasons for becoming an accredited Biosphere Reserve.
The event is jointly being hosted by Tilba Environment Landcarers and the Tilba District Chamber of Commerce. All are welcome to attend. To do so, please RSVP to Mark Stubbings, Stubbingsmark@gmail.com.
