Governance Decision-Making Tool

Types of Designation

What geographical area should the designated area cover?

The area of land covered in a designated area relates firstly to the types of landscapes and land uses to be considered for inclusions within the area. Biosphere Reserves, for example, often include “transition zones” containing agricultural landscapes, as well as towns and villages, in addition to “core” areas that are usually a priority in terms of biodiversity conservation. Wester Ross Biosphere provides as an example of these different zones. Which areas are suitable for inclusion in the area, given its overall aims? Is there a natural boundary to the area?

The geographical area, however, is also an important consideration in terms of governance. For example, if the governance of the area is closely tied to local government (for example, a UK “local authority” or a Scandinavian “municipality”), then it may be beneficial to align the boundaries of the area with those of (perhaps multiple) local authorities/municipalities. It is then easier to determine which of these areas needs to be represented within the area’s governance structure. Challenges may also be posed by the size of an area – for example, it may be difficult for the governance structure to be representative of all residents of an area if that area is particularly large and sparsely populated (this is another key question to be addressed).