How would a Waiheke Biosphere Reserve be run?
“Organizational arrangements should be provided for the involvement and participation of a suitable range of … public authorities, local communities and private interests in the design and carrying out the functions of a biosphere reserve.” (UNESCO) In practice, there is no single organisational model for Biosphere Reserves. In some cases, management is effectively in the hands of the environmental body that looks after the core zone. In others, management is given to the local authority. In others, a special governing body is set up with representatives from local and central government departments. In others, it is set up with strong local input. The general advice is that the form of governance should follow the particular context and aims of the reserve. Once a decision to proceed were arrived at, the first step would probably be to set up a Steering Group representing different interests on the island to take the project forward. This could be done locally and at an early stage. I
