6 Jan 2009
People living in a Biosphere need to know they are in it, and if the tourism potential is to be realized, visitors need to see some evidence of it too. Biospheres try to raise awareness of the value of our natural heritage and to explore how we humans can benefit from looking after it.
At the moment there is no interpretation of the Dyfi Biosphere, and people have been considering how some can be put in place. Several organizations are likely to put up information boards at their sites in the near future, for example at nature reserves. Can they all carry a key message and image about the Dyfi Biosphere so that visitors see something of that wider context?
“Interpretation” of a site, habitat or process involves engaging people while they are out and about enjoying themselves. Generally, they are not there specifically to learn, so the medium and the message have to be accessible and with wide appeal. This may include audio and moving images as well as text and pictures.
Two meetings about this have been held. Discussions included the Countryside Council for Wales’ aspiration to upgrade its displays at Ynyslas and the RSPB’s plans for Ynyshir. Both plans involve activities off their own sites and depend on getting European Union money through a project called Communities and Nature.
© 2007 Dyfi Biosphere