Presentation delivered for the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Review process. Presented to the Noosa Council Working Group, co-presenters and community on 4th March 2014. This presentation focuses on Vision for the Noosa Biosphere Reserve.

1. Image: Tourism Noosa
Review of Noosa Biosphere Reserve
Management Model
Presentation to Noosa Council Working Group
4th March 2014

2. Cathie Withyman
Owner of local businesses:
Kayak Noosa &
Sustainability Partners
Post Graduate Researcher:
(Sustainable Tourism)
CQUniversity, Noosa
Sustainability
Partners
Recently I have worked on two consultancy
projects for NBL:
Opportunities for developing a sustainable
tourism industry in NBR
&
State of the Biosphere Report Card

3. Vision
Noosa Biosphere Reserve is a place where:
“We live in equilibrium and harmony with nature.
Our social and economic success is based on
protection of and respect for the environment”
“Our decisions are based on the broader principles
of living in harmony with the Earth and prioritising
the “collective good.”
“We recognise that ‘living well’ means adopting
forms of consumption, behaviour and conduct that
are not degrading to nature.”
Vision is based upon "Ley de Derechos de La Madre Tierra", Law of Mother Earth”, Bolivia.

4. Our Objectives
On a practical level, we aim to:
1. Prioritise the wellbeing of our community and natural
environment by developing policies and programs that
promote sustainability and control harmful industries and
development.
1. Ensure our economy operates within the limits of nature. We
are working towards energy and food sovereignty while
adopting renewable energy technologies and increasing
energy efficiency.
1. Recognise the inextricable connection between human and
environmental well-being. We understand that our natural
environment is being pushed past sustainable limits, and that
our community, enterprises and institutions need to take part
in reversing this trend.

5. While Noosa has been proactive about the environment and a variety of social
issues, it had never defined its efforts in terms of
an overarching sustainability framework.
So, if this is the vision and the way we see the future then how do we get there?
Crucial to the success is….
• Vision Incorporated into Governance at all levels within NBR including council,
NBR & Tourism Noosa
• All decisions made, policies and projects developed should be made with
reference to and consideration of the guiding principals
• Communication and engagement of the local community is key
Creation of an Integrated Community Sustainability Plan (ICSP)

6. What is a ICSP
•
Community plan for the future that is adopted and implemented across all
areas - Government, industry & community
• It requires community visioning and participation from all areas of the
community.
• Critical to agree on a common framework and definition of sustainability
• Uses taskforce (or similar) to identify and take action for implementation of the
plan. They also review actions and make recommendations for the future.

7. Imperatives for success are:
1.
Strong leadership from government and community leaders
1.
Facilitation and a multi-stakeholder framework for engagement
1.
Recognition that broad community engagement and ownership is crucial for success
1.
Shared and genuine desire for inclusive and diverse participation
We have the above in motion now we need:
1.
Action-oriented process
1.
Organisational responsibility for implementation
1.
Mobilizing leaders to work together during a critical stage of development in the
community
1.
Rigorous research and monitoring programs that adequately measures successes and
shortcomings in achieving the Noosa Biosphere Vision

8. Background work already done –
The Natural Step for Communities
60 communities in Sweden
Whistler, Canada – Whistler2020
"The best way to
forecast the
future is to create
it."

9. Thank you
.