Green Economy

The word economics comes from ancient Greek roots

Eco – from the Greek for home
Nomics: from the Greek - management or husbandry of resources.

The ancient Greeks understood the finite extent of their natural resources and the benefits they received from them. They also understood husbandry, the need to care for their resources. To them, economics was about more than money and growth at all costs.

The North Devon UNESCO biosphere ethos is that a healthy economy and social cohesion rest on a healthy environment, not the other way around. It is working with nature and not against it.

Our biosphere is continually looking at ways that it can help businesses maximise the benefit they receive from the environment and things it can do to preserve and sustain that environment for future generations.

Three key economic sectors that have a huge impact not just on the economy but on our biosphere's landscapes and wildlife are: agriculture, freshwater and marine industries, and tourism.

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Projects

Investing in Nature
Visitor Gifting Scheme

Agriculture in the Biosphere
Freshwater and Marine industries

Issues

• The area GDP per head is around 75% of the national average.
• The economy lacks resilience to respond to issues like climate change
• Traditional industries need to be supported in order to make a transition to a more sustainable economy
• Tourism industry does not adequately value and use the benefits of the natural environment across the Biosphere area
• An overall drive to low-cost production of commodities that make it difficult to fit in environmental improvements
• Businesses need support to make a transition to being more environmentally friendly and find niche markets