The Galloway and South Ayrshire proposed biosphere reserve welcomed speakers from two European UNESCO biosphere reserves and two 'new style' UK biosphere reserves at a public conference held in New Galloway on 20 May 2010. The conference brought together local community representatives, biosphere managers and experts from across Europe to explore the benefits that a biosphere could bring to Galloway and Southern Ayrshire.Timo Hokkanen from Karelia Biosphere Reserve, Finland and Christian Diry from Wienerwald Biosphere Reserve, Austria joined Andrew Bell from North Devon's Biosphere Reserve, South England, and Allan Wynne Jones and Peter Frost from Biosffer Dyfi Biosphere, North Wales, to share perspectives from their areas on organisation, zonation, stakeholder participation, communication, education, research, and economic and social development. Members of the UK MAB Committee also attended the conference which provided them with an opportunity to discuss views with local community and business representatives.
All the conference presentations can be found on the proposed Galloway and South Ayrshire Biosphere website.