A sweeping blueprint to reshape how nature, communities and the economy coexist is set to guide North Devon for the next decade, with ambitious targets aimed at restoring habitats, improving water quality and boosting sustainable growth.
Councillors have been asked to back the latest ten-year strategy for the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere, covering the period 2026 to 2036, alongside a new partnership agreement and funding arrangements.
The strategy, produced by the North Devon Biosphere Partnership, sets out a long-term plan to manage the area’s natural environment while supporting local livelihoods and development.
A biosphere reserve is recognised internationally for its balance between conservation and sustainable living, with North Devon’s designation covering more than 5,000 square kilometres of land and sea.
The new plan outlines four main themes: helping nature thrive, living in balance with nature, unlocking the local value of the environment, and learning from nature.
Among the headline aims are increasing woodland cover to 17%, restoring 10,000 hectares of marine habitats, and ensuring half of the area’s land is managed in a nature-friendly way.
The strategy also targets improvements in river health, with a goal of 50% of water bodies reaching good ecological status and none classified as poor.
Alongside environmental goals, the plan seeks to grow the local economy through nature-based activity, including generating £1 million a year from projects linked to the biosphere and increasing public engagement with the natural environment.
A report to North Devon Council states that the strategy has been shaped by public consultation carried out between September and October 2025, with feedback from local authorities incorporated into the final draft.
Members are being recommended to endorse the strategy and agree to sign a partnership agreement later in 2026, which will formalise roles and responsibilities across 36 organisations involved in managing the biosphere.
The council is also expected to approve a service level agreement confirming its annual funding contribution to the North Devon Biosphere Foundation, with £15,900 allocated in the 2026/27 budget.
According to the report, the strategy provides “a 10-year plan… setting out clear aims and objectives against a measurable action plan”.
If adopted, the plan will form part of the area’s wider response to climate change, biodiversity loss and sustainable development challenges, with the biosphere described as a “living laboratory” for testing new approaches to managing land, water and nature.
