Frequently asked questions
The following answers were provided to the Forest of Dean Commoners Association in advance of their meeting on the 11 April 2026.
General FAQs
What makes an area suitable to become a biosphere?
Biospheres are renowned for their exceptional environments and a high diversity of life. Biospheres are areas where the special attributes of the area are considered to be potential assets for local people and societies. When an area demonstrates good examples of using and preserving these resources, it may become a biosphere.
Are people allowed to live in a biosphere?
To fulfil the criteria for a biosphere, people must live in the area. The concept of sustainable development depends on local support and involvement. The people living in the area are essential to biospheres.
Is a biosphere similar to those big domes?
No, a biosphere isn't an artificially constructed area.It is a place where people live and work. The local community care for the environment and manage resources in the biosphere that allow stable and sustainable economic growth and development.
Why are we applying to become a UNESCO Biosphere?
We love our forest and every corner of the district, and we want to celebrate its uniqueness, preserve it for future generations, and create new opportunities for communities, businesses, and residents, all while protecting our natural environment.
The forest works as it is, why change it now?
Biosphere status isn’t about changing what works it’s about recognising what’s already special and helping to:
- Secure funding
- Support local jobs and sustainability
- Coordinate conservation and community efforts.
What are the functions of biospheres?
Each biosphere should fulfil three functions that work together and reinforce one another:
- A conservation function - to preserve genetic variation, species, ecosystems and landscapes.
- A development function - to foster sustainable economic and human development.
- A logistic function - to support research, monitoring, education and information exchange related to local, national, and global issues of conservation and development.
How will this benefit residents?
Becoming a UNESCO Biosphere can create a wide range of opportunities and benefits for local residents including:
- growing and enhancing strong, thriving local communities
- future-proofing the local economy by attracting new streams of funding and investment through sustainable and green business
- helping to protect our heritage, culture, and unique identity
- supporting sustainable education, skills, and creating new
opportunities for all ages - protecting nature and our local wildlife, both now and in the future
- making us more resilient in response to climate change
- creating a lasting legacy that is internationally recognised.
What is the benefit of a biosphere to the local economy?
- It supports local economic growth through sustainable agriculture, crafts, nature-based tourism, and outdoor activity sectors.
- It strengthens the visitor economy by promoting the area’s landscapes, culture, and small businesses.
- UNESCO status increases access to national and international funding (public, private and NGO) especially for sustainability, innovation and community projects.
- It boosts place identity and branding, helping local products, food, crafts, and experiences stand out.
- Healthy ecosystems reduce long term costs (flooding, soil loss, and water quality) and provide long term economic value.
- It improves coordination between councils, business, and communities, leading to better, earlier problem solving.
- It attracts research, skills, and innovation, bringing talent, funding, and partnerships into the district.
What are the benefits to individual businesses?
- Local procurement: more local spend staying in the Forest, opportunities for SMEs to supply larger local businesses, and wider local opportunities.
- Stronger marketing and identity: businesses can use the biosphere brand to differentiate their offer.
- Access to research and innovation: opportunities to collaborate with universities and sustainability projects.
- Stronger local networks: a biosphere partnership formalises collaboration between businesses, skills providers, and councils.
- Easier recruitment and retention: place reputation improves and biosphere status supports bids for skills, transport, and infrastructure investment.
- Reduced disruption: better coordination across land and infrastructure means earlier action on issues that affect businesses (flooding, transport, and service failures).
How are businesses in other UK biospheres benefitting?
- Stronger branding and reputation for sustainability minded firms.
- Growth in ecotourism and cultural tourism.
- Provides a unique offer to attract investment and talent.
- Participation in 'living labs' - testing new ideas, products, and services.
- Attraction of green/tech/renewables businesses looking for supportive places to invest.
- More resilient local supply chains.
- Higher visitor spend linked to biosphere marketing.
What are the parameters of the biosphere?
A biosphere follows the UNESCO model with three zones:
- Core areas – existing protected sites for conservation
- Buffer zones – areas surrounding cores where activities are carefully managed
- Transition areas – where people live, work, and use the landscape sustainably.
In the Forest of Dean, this would build on existing designations rather than creating entirely new boundaries or restrictions. The edge of the biosphere would be the district boundary.
How does this affect people's access to the forest for leisure – will it be limited in any way?
No. Biosphere status does not introduce new public access restrictions. Walking, cycling, and other recreational activities would continue as they do now.
How will becoming a biosphere affect access to things such as caving clubs and river access?
It wouldn’t change access. Existing permissions, agreements, and regulations would stay the same. Any future changes would go through the usual consultation processes.
Will parts of the forest be fenced off?
No. Biosphere designation does not require fencing or closing off land. It works with what already exists. A biosphere does not have any legal powers and does not own the land therefore it would not result in fencing being used in the forest.
Will people be restricted from entering the core area/zone?
Core areas are already protected as all of our selected core sites already are designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Access rules would remain exactly as they are now and there would be no new restrictions just because of biosphere status.
Will people be restricted from entering the buffer area/zone?
No. Buffer zones are not closed to the public. They are areas where activities are managed sensitively, but public access is unchanged.
Will parts of the forest be sold off?
No. Biosphere status has nothing to do with land ownership or selling land.
Will the biosphere be used for carbon offsetting and will people be allowed to buy carbon credits?
Biosphere status itself does not create a carbon credit scheme. Any such projects would be totally separate decisions, subject to regulation and local agreement.
Would becoming a biosphere help protect all areas of the Forest of Dean?
It can help by encouraging better coordination, funding opportunities, and sustainable management, but it does not add new legal protections by itself.
Who decides what happens in the biosphere?
Decisions will be made locally through a partnership board including representatives from the district council, landowners, community groups, businesses, and environmental organisations. UNESCO’s role is to recognise and support the designation, not to control local decisions.
Will the biosphere affect ancient rights in the area?
No. Ancient rights are protected by law and would not be changed by biosphere designation. The Verderers, The Freeminers and the Commoners would continue as they always have done.
How will becoming a biosphere affect Commoning?
Becoming a biosphere would not change Commoning practices. Instead, it could help support and highlight their importance as part of the area’s heritage and sustainable land use.
How will becoming a biosphere affect Verdering?
Verderers and their role would remain the same. Biosphere status does not alter governance structures but may support collaboration and recognition of their work.
Will biosphere status affect my right to Freemining?
No. The historic right to Freemine, which allows individuals certain traditional mining rights in the Forest of Dean, remains fully intact. Biosphere designation does not alter these rights, nor does it impose new restrictions on mining activities. Existing legal protections and mining practices continue as before. The ancient rights of Freeminers to burn and mine coal are still protected.
Why are we choosing biosphere status over getting the area recognised as an AONB or SSSI?
- SSSIs and similar designations focus on protection of specific sites
- AONBs focus on landscape protection
- A biosphere is broader and it connects conservation, communities, and sustainable development across the whole district.
The Forest of Dean already includes protected sites such as AONB and SSSIs; a biosphere would bring these together under one framework. In addition, these designations can work together, and you can have them working in conjunction with one another.
What is the difference between a biosphere and a Natural World Heritage Site?
A biosphere is a representative ecological area with three mutually reinforcing functions: conservation, sustainable development, and logistic support for scientific research and education. Natural World Heritage Sites must have outstanding universal value in accordance with the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972).
What will UNESCO Biosphere status mean?
UNESCO Biosphere status will:
- not create new laws, rules and regulations
- not add additional planning restrictions, enforcements and red tape
- support truly sustainable development
- protect the ancient traditions and rights of Freeminers, Verderers, and Commoners.
How does UNESCO ensure that biospheres function properly?
Biospheres are governed by "soft law". Member States of UNESCO commit to apply the Statutory Framework for Biospheres and undertake a ten-yearly periodic review process for each biosphere. The MAB (Man and the Biosphere) national committee in each country ensures biospheres fulfil the criteria and function properly: in the UK this is the UK MAB Committee.
How is the biosphere funded?
There is no large central funding pot from UNESCO. Funding usually comes from a mix of:
- Grants
- Partnerships
- Local and national funding streams.
Biosphere status can help attract grant funding, as it demonstrates that the work is taking place within a recognised framework.
Will this change planning laws or land ownership?
No. Biosphere status does not create new legal powers. Land ownership remains the same, and planning decisions will continue to follow national and local policies. The biosphere provides a framework for partnership, not regulation.
Will house prices or second homes increase?
This concern has been raised in consultations. Biosphere designation does not affect planning policy or directly influence house prices. However, the council and partners will continue to monitor impacts of tourism and housing, and ensure that policies protect the interests of local communities.
Will it attract more tourists?
Biosphere status often attracts visitors who value nature and culture. The aim is to manage tourism sustainably, so that it benefits local businesses while protecting the Forest’s character. Lessons from other biospheres show that careful planning can enhance visitor experience without overwhelming communities.
The goal is regenerative or slow tourism, not mass tourism. The focus is on:
- Supporting local businesses
- Protecting the environment
- Managing visitor impact responsibly.
Where can I find out more about the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme?
You can find out more and discover answers to FAQs about the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme here.
How does UNESCO decide on designating an area a biosphere?
UNESCO undertakes its own review and approvals procedures then makes the final decision. This includes review by a special international advisory committee of experts and then by the Bureau of the MAB programme and its International Coordinating Council (ICC). The approvals process is undertaken only once a year, so deadlines for submissions are important. Dates for submission can be found on the UNESCO website.
How can I get involved?
You can take part in surveys, attend public meetings, join community groups, or volunteer with local projects. Updates will be shared on the council’s biosphere site, and residents will have many opportunities to help shape the future of the Forest of Dean as a biosphere.