The Mornington Peninsula and Western Port region is so special that, in 2002, the United Nations proclaimed it a UNESCO biosphere reserve.
Put simply, a biosphere reserve is a living laboratory where people cooperate to develop better ways to manage the Earth's resources to meet human needs, while conserving natural processes and biodiversity.
Other biosphere reserves in Australia include Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park and Wilsons Promontory National Park.
Our Biosphere is one of four in Victoria — the other three being national parks — and the only one with a resident population that reaches some 250,000 people during the peak tourist season.
Our Biosphere has many outstanding natural values, including Western Port, a Ramsar wetland of international importance. But it also faces unprecedented challenges, such as rapid urbanisation.
It is this rich fusion of ecological, social and economic values and challenges that makes our Biosphere so special.
The Biosphere gives us the chance to protect this special place for our children. It is also a UNESCO living laboratory for developing better solutions to adapt to a changing world.
