The Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere could be set to expand.
The biosphere team is reviewing the geographical boundaries they cover ahead of the 10th anniversary next year and is considering whether to make the Rhins of Galloway part of the designation.
They are now holding a public consultation on the idea and have launched a digital survey to see what backing there is on the potential benefits of bringing in the Rhins.
The biosphere currently covers more than 5,000 square kilometres across Dumfries and Galloway and east and south Ayrshire.
It has no regulatory control, instead working with other agencies to deliver a programme of initiatives supporting sustainable land use and local enterprise as well as developing research and learning opportunities and enhancing community resilience to local climate change impacts.
The current biosphere boundaries were based on river catchments which resulted in the Rhins being left out of the original designation.
Including this area would bring Luce Bay and the Mull of Galloway, Kirkcolm, Portpatrick, and Drummore into the fold, as well as Stranraer.
The biosphere team is keen that as many local residents as possible can participate in the consultation and is inviting people to take part in an online survey at www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/BiosphereBoundaryReview.
The biosphere is working with Solway Firth Partnership to create a range of both in-person and digital forums so that everybody who wishes to respond to the proposal can do so.
More information is available at www.gsabiosphere.org.uk or by emailing info@gsabiosphere.org.uk.
