Is Forest of Dean’s Unesco biosphere bid in peril?

An ambitious bid for the Forest of Dean to achieve international recognition as a Unesco biosphere reserve has been paused, raising fears the project is in jeopardy.

There are fears the Forest of Dean’s bid to become a Unesco biosphere reserve is now in peril after civic chiefs voted for six months of further consultation.

Green Party councillors fear the area could lose out on achieving the international recognition as the Forest of Dean District Council will miss this year’s September deadline.

The council has been working on applying for the status which would recognise the ancient woodland and place it in the same league as places such as Yellowstone or Florida’s Everglades in the USA and the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean.

Such status helps protect landscapes and wildlife while boosting eco-tourism, sustainable agriculture and green business while increasing the region’s appeal internationally, according to its supporters.

However, there are serious concerns over the level of consultation with the public on the project which the district council has been working on since 2019.

Dozens of residents gathered in Coleford on Thursday (May 21) a…