Noosa Biosphere Reserve

Noosa Biosphere Reserve is a protected coastal area in Queensland that combines multiple landscape types within a single region. The reserve includes rainforests, freshwater lakes, sand dune ecosystems, and elevated terrain all interconnected across the landscape.

UNESCO designated this area as a biosphere reserve in 2007, adding it to the global network focused on sustainable development in island and coastal regions. The recognition helped establish formal protection for the interconnected ecosystems across the landscape.

The reserve maintains strong connections with indigenous communities who share traditional ecological knowledge and sustainable land management practices through generations.

Walking trails provide access to different habitat zones and allow visitors to move through the varied landscapes at their own pace. Water-based activities like swimming and kayaking are common ways to experience the reserve.

The reserve operates as a living laboratory where 60,000 residents participate in research projects about shark ecology, marine species, and conservation indicators.