The video which accompanied the nomination can be viewed by clicking here.

It has recieved support from QANTAS through a significant donation from the Qantas Foundation to support conservation efforts through Fauna & Flora International, an international conservation organisation.

 

QANTAS has also featured the Biosphere to passengers on over 700 international flights per week through the Welcome Aboard inflight program presented by Deborah Hutton.  The segment on the Biosphere includes footage of some significant areas such as Fraser Island, rainforests and Humpback Whales.  Click here to view the video.

 

 

It has received support from many organisations including Gympie Cooloola Tourism.

Biosphere status encourages us to create a sustainable future: to work together to look after land and water, build sustainable communities, healthy businesses and to learn how best to do this. The Biosphere concept is about making sure that our natural environments are valued and conserved.

 

Biospheres aim to promote harmony between people and nature through education, conservation and sustainable activities.

Harmony— as a result of balanced, considerate and tolerant ways of living

Education—requires openness, curiosity, willingness to share

Conservation—caring for our wildlife, bushlands, waterways, and for our cultural heritage

Sustainable activities—so our jobs, businesses and lifestyles don’t cost us the earth
 

Inspired communities

Sustainable futures are created by everyday efforts of people working together to make a difference.  The aims of the Great Sandy Biosphere are supported by a growing list of organisations, such as educators working with children, businesses, environmental groups, traditional owners and many more.

 

The Great Sandy Biosphere area stretches westwards from the Noosa Biosphere Reserve to the Mary River and then north to the Burnett River.  The boundary runs east to Sandy Cape on Fraser Island, then southward to include the Cooloola sandmass. It includes major centres such as Hervey Bay, Maryborough, Gympie, several coastal towns and Fraser Island. The Biosphere includes over 874,000 hectares of land and a marine area of over 542,000 hectares.

The awarding of UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status for the Great Sandy came about through the combined efforts and support of many individuals and groups. It was nominated by the community based Burnett Mary Regional Group with support from the Fraser Coast and Gympie Regional Councils, a broad range of industry and conservation groups, universities, catchment groups, schools,  politicians and indigenous people.  This support showed the determination in our community to protect the Great Sandy region values through planning that guides development and population so that the beauty and diversity of the natural environment is conserved.

 

The Great Sandy Biosphere Reserve has outstanding biodiversity values.  The region is one of the most diverse in Australia, spanning a sub-tropical to temperate 'transition' zone, and contains representative species from both climates, including some that are unique to the region.

It contains the world’s tallest and most complex rainforests growing on sand,
half of Australia’s bird species, more marine fish diversity than the entire Great Barrier Reef, over 7500 recorded species of fauna and flora, many which are rare or endangered, the largest and highest perched dune lakes in the world,World and National Heritage listed areas and the world’s best observable example of ancient sand dunes.

This natural environment has been protected by a community culture of responsible stewardship.  We need to ensure this protection continues. The heart of the Great Sandy Biosphere is its people — the many individuals, families, groups and businesses committed to living and working together to make a difference. 

 

If you live in the Great Sandy Biosphere you already are involved! You are part of an internationally recognised reserve, and you can contribute to its preservation with everyday small actions such as: reduce energy use, walk or ride your bike instead of drive, recycle and minimise your household waste and energy use.

 

If you want to take a more involved role, keep watching this website, contact your local Council or the Burnett Mary Regional Group.  If you are a visitor, take the time to explore, enjoy, help care for and celebrate the Biosphere alongside the locals.