How the Dyfi Biosphere works
The Dyfi Biosphere’s status is voluntary and there is no regular funding for core activities, so its aims are achieved by people and organisations working in co-operation.
Building a regenerative decarbonised economy
The BRO Partnership (BRO) was commissioned by ecodyfi, on behalf of the UNESCO Dyfi Biosphere Partnership, to prepare a Business and Development Plan. The work was initiated in March 2021 and completed by July 2021. The project was supported by the Welsh Government / National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Green Recovery Capacity Building Scheme.
The Plan sets out a path by which the Biosphere would become an independent organisation with its own staff. It also includes a record of the community, business and public sector engagement carried out during the contract period, and it compares the Dyfi Biosphere’s funding situation with some other UK Biospheres.
A new management group is trying to secure development funding for a three-year period. It has grouped a variety of proposed actions around three themes, as follows:
1. Help land managers (farming, fishing, growing, forestry and so on) shape the future.
2. Develop a regenerative localised economy.
3. Strengthen local well-being, knowledge and participation in democracy.
Download the plan below for more details.
Dyfi Biosphere report and plan July 2021
The Biosphere is keen to promote involvement in the initiative, by individuals, clubs and societies, businesses and the public sector. It is important that the brand is made more visible in the community and that more people come to recognise and understand what it represents.
The Coordination Plan describes the aims, proposed actions and how they are to be coordinated.
The Annual Meeting is open to all with an interest in the Dyfi Biosphere - to receive reports, to discuss what’s happening and to have their say.
The Partnership oversees all activities, reporting to UNESCO through Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and the Welsh Government. The Secretariat is provided by the public sector partners in turn. Current members are listed on the right of this page.
The Officer Support Group works for the Partnership between meetings, making sure its decisions are being carried out.
Much of the Dyfi Biosphere’s work is done by people coming together to pursue their common interests. In some cases, they form thematic groups or networks, such as the following:
Partnership members
Alun Williams - Ceredigion Council
Andy Rowland - Secretariat (ecodyfi)
Avril York - Powys County Council
John Wynn Jones Gwynedd County Council
David L Roberts - Snowdonia National Park Authority
Linda Ashton - Natural Resources Wales
Lisa Tomos - Natural Resources Wales
Patrick Green - Natural Resources Wales
Chris Worker - Welsh Govenment
Steve Chambers - Welsh Govenment
Dai Harris - Welsh Govnement
Bev Dimmock - Dyfi Biosphere Tourism Association (RSPB)
Jenny Dingle - Dyfi Biopshere Education Group (RSPB)
Abi Crutcher - Dyfi Biopshere Education Group (Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust)
Julie Green - Mid Wales Africa Network
Iolo Ap Gwynne - Chair
Dave Anning - RSPB
Dyfi Biosphere Education Group - DBEG
This group helps educators and learners get the maximum benefit from the special learning opportunities that the UNESCO Biosphere accolade offers. It is a network of both formal and informal professional education providers in the Dyfi Biosphere. It can identify and commission new education projects, provide signposting to potential partners, and give access to Biosphere related learning resources. Download the group’s and get in touch.
Dyfi Biosphere Tourism Association - DBTA
The Association is open to all tourism related businesses operating within the Dyfi Biosphere area. Its main aims are to increase visitor numbers and spend in the area by promoting its unique natural and cultural assets which underlie the designation of the area by UNESCO. It is a group of people who are actively encouraging and supporting each other to create more sustainable tourism businesses. Get in touch.
Mid Wales Africa Network
Members of the network seek to:
- Encourage the sharing of skills and knowledge between groups with community links in Africa
- Learn from each other to improve and strengthen the delivery of projects in our individual partnership countries
- Work to raise awareness of culture, music and current affairs in Africa by jointly staging events and activities
- Reflect Wales's commitment to international development as an outward looking nation.
Communication
The Communications Plan describes other ways in which participation is encouraged, including the website, facebook and twitter, the Dyfi Biosphere Charter, the Supporters scheme for individuals and the ‘Faces of the Biosphere’ programme.
The Charter
By signing the Charter, organisations demonstrate their support for the Vision of the Biosphere. Then they are allowed to use the Dyfi Biosphere logo to show this. So far, the Biosphere has not endorsed specific products (e.g. on packaging) because of a lack of capacity to define and monitor standards.
Anybody is welcome to assert that their own activities contribute towards the Vision or Objectives of the Biosphere. For example, applicants for funding may say that their proposal would benefit the Biosphere initiative.
If asked for endorsement of a project proposal, the Biosphere will apply the following criteria:
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The extent to which it supports progress towards the Vision and Objectives;
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The credibility of the delivery mechanism proposed;
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Whether it conflicts with or undermines any policies of the Partnership;
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Whether it conflicts with or undermines any policies of Partnership members.