Facebook

YouTube

  • Welcome to the Kerry UNESCO Biosphere Reserve: home to Irelands highest mountain range, the MacGillycuddy Reeks, and the beautiful Lakes of Killarney

A Biosphere Reserve is a special designation awarded by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) through their Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme.

The Biosphere designation brings no new rules or regulations but rather encourages us to work together to create a better future for people and nature.

The Kerry Biosphere Reserve is one of only two UNESCO Biosphere Reserves in Ireland. Covering approximately 65,000hectares and has a population of approx. 25,500 people.

Kerry Biosphere Reserve

About the Kerry Biosphere

First designated in 1982 as Killarney National Park Biosphere Reserve

UNESCO Biosphere Reserves

Biosphere reserves are ‘learning places for sustainable development

Get Involved

You can get involved in a range of different ways

Resources

Publications, Resources, and Information Material

Latest News & Events

Final Rainwater Planters

The Killarney Men's Shed have installed the last of our five rainwater planters in the Biosphere....
Read More...

Workshop Cancelled

Unfortunately we have had to cancel our creative writing workshop scheduled for Thursday July...
Read More...

Our Wild Woodlands

The Biosphere's 'Our Wild Woodlands' booklet is coming along nicely and is already awash with...
Read More...

Creative Writing Workshop

We are delighted to collaborate with Killarney Library once again. We will be hosting a Creative...
Read More...

Biodiversity Week - Library Initiative

The Kerry Biosphere was delighted to team up with Kerry County Council to prepare biodiversity...
Read More...

Flora in Bloom

The grassland at Killarney Library is looking healthy and has not been mown in May. Dandelion and...
Read More...

Kerry Libraries Biodiversity Week

Biodiversity Week 2025 has been and gone, time flies as usual. The glorious weather continued for...
Read More...

Invertebrates

With this Mediterranean like weather, it is a great chance to observe our varied invertebrates. A...
Read More...

Pollinators

With the brilliant sunshine and warm temperatures, it has been a great period for our pollinators....
Read More...

Invasive Species

Now that we are in the summer months, our flora is blooming. It is easy to see just why Hawthorn...
Read More...

Citizen Science

Our spell of fine weather continues to wash the landscape with colour and life. Summer's...
Read More...

No Mow May

We are into the second week of May already and into week three of exceptionally fine weather. The...
Read More...

Rainwater Planters Thriving

We are glad to report that our rainwater planters are thriving and it was worth waiting for native...
Read More...

Kerry Library Initiative

The Kerry Biosphere is thrilled to be taking part in an educational awareness programme in Kerry's...
Read More...

Summer!

Summer has well and truly arrived at the Kerry Biosphere. Grassland species are coming into bloom...
Read More...

Rainwater Planters Looking Good

Our three rainwater planters at national schools in the Killarney region are looking great. Spring...
Read More...
The Alt Tag

UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB)

{Play}UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) is an intergovernmental programme aiming to set a scientific basis for the improvement of relationships between people and their local environments.

Biosphere Reserves are established by individual countries and recognised by MAB to promote sustainable development based on local community efforts and sound science.

Join our mailing list to stay in touch!

Sign up and receive our quarterly newsletter. Learn about upcoming events, conservation work and how you can get involved!