A REPORT released last week has revealed an overview of the state of wildlife living within the North Devon Biosphere Reserve. The North Devon Biosphere catchment area follows the water from the source of the Taw and Torridge rivers, and smaller rivers running into the sea along the coast from Lynton to Hartland, down through the villages and towns of north Devon out to sea, to Lundy and beyond. Winkleigh and Hatherleigh are among the communities that fall within the biosphere. The report on the reserve brings together a variety of data to give an overview of the state of wildlife within the area, and social and economic trends that will affect the area's future sustainable development. Councillor Gaye Tabor, the Torridge District Council member on the biosphere partnership, said: 'This report provides some of the information necessary for stakeholders to reconsider priorities for the area. It shows that overall, the state of the biosphere is better now than it was ten years ago and better than the national picture, though there are still significant areas for concern and where concerted effort is needed to improve things.' From a wildlife perspective, key findings are that otter populations within the biosphere's rivers are strong, and that woodlands are a wonderful biodiversity resource but are threatened as never before by fragmentation and lack of management. The report also shows that there is not enough culm grassland to halt the decline in some key species such as the rare Marsh Fritillary butterfly or, through its ability to act like a sponge and to hold on to water, to help reduce the risk of flooding caused in part by climate change. The report also shows that in many respects, people and organisations in the biosphere reserve are using natural resources sustainably. However, it also states there is a long way to go in changing energy sources to renewables, and before the area can be confident of meeting carbon reduction targets. Biosphere Reserves are places with world-class environments designated by the United Nations to promote and demonstrate a balanced relationship between people and nature. The reserve promotes both conservation and sustainable develop-ment. The 'State of the North Devon UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve' report has been produced as part of the periodic review process required by UNESCO every ten years. The report can be read online at http://www.northdevonbiosphere.org.uk/periodic-review.html">www.northdevonbiosphere.org.uk/periodic-review.html For more information, contact Matt Edworthy or Andrew Bell via the e-mail at [email protected]">[email protected] or [email protected]">[email protected] or call them on 01271 388647.