As outlined in this new report submitted to UNESCO this 30th of September, we are celebrating a decade of sustainability excellence across our area, as one of the 750 designated Biospheres in the world. Biospheres’ purpose is to connect people and nature for a better future.

Please check the report to see the amazing journey we can all take pride in, together with our cross sector partners, including:

• Restoring our precious chalk: from a rare chalk stream outside Lewes to chalk grassland through the Changing Chalk programme
• Protecting underground drinking water supplies with rain gardens on streets, in parks and in schools, through The Aquifer Partnership (now named The Aquifer Project)
• Providing environmental education in Brighton & Hove schools through the Our City, Our World programme and other local initiatives
• Leading a regional tourism programme to promote sustainable experiences for visitors and develop a toolkit for tourism businesses
• Artists’ residencies, as well as installations such as sculptures on the Undercliff Walk
• Supporting many vibrant people and innovations, such as Sussex Bay, home to the UK’s first ever Blue Natural Capital Lab and blueprint to enhance our marine and coastal environments

UNESCO recognised The Living Coast in 2014 as a biosphere for its world-class environment of rare chalk downland and successful collaborations on sustainable practices, education and research, and connecting people with nature. Every 10 years biospheres must renew their designation with UNESCO. The Living Coast has been preparing for this milestone over the past 2 years, with local people and organisations contributing to a 10-year review and 10-year forward plan. You can access it all in the report.

The Living Coast operates as a cross-sector partnership with businesses, conservation, education, voluntary, community, arts and culture, and local councils.

Longstanding partners and supporters include Brighton & Hove City Council, Lewes District Council, the South Downs National Park Authority, Adur & Worthing, Rampion Wind Farm, the University of Brighton, the University of Sussex, the Sussex IFCA (Inshore Fisheries Conservation Authorities), Southern Water, Brighton & Hove Buses, the Environment Agency, Natural England, National Trust, Sussex Wildlife Trust, RSPB, Dorothy Stringer School, VisitBrighton, the Brighton & Hove Food Partnership, Shoreham Port, the Fabrica and ONCA art galleries, So Sussex, the Lewes Railwand Wildlife Trust, Big Nature, the Sussex and Marine Coastal Forum, the B&H Green Spaces forum, Greenhavens Network (Seaford), KP Projects, Green Tides, East Chiltington Parish Council, Hanover Action, CPRE Sussex, the United Nations Association for Climate and Oceans in the UK, Wilsome Communications Agency, and many other incredibly vibrant local organisations and people.

More recent partners include Brighton Chamber, the Newhaven Enterprise Zone, Greater Brighton, Plumpton College, Sussex Bay, BHCC BME Black & Ethnic Minorities Forum.

Martin Harris, chair of The Living Coast, said: “We are immensely proud to live and work in our unique Biosphere, and I am equally proud of the way our team, board, partners and the community have come together to celebrate their work over our first 10 years. We have created an inspiring and shared vision that will connect and balance the needs of humanity and nature over the next 10 years and beyond.”

Now we are looking forward to the next decade. Find out about our vision and new goals.