And the money will be used to help Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere reach its full potential, and create up to 12 full time jobs.
SOSE has announced its second biggest investment to date, committing £1.9m over five years towards the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere (GSAB).
The funding will help the organisation to grow faster, strengthening their standing as a key influencer in the region and helping them achieve their sustainability ambitions.
Activities can be increased around the four key strategic objectives, climate and adaptation; land-use and biodiversity; research and learning and sustainable development, widening its reach and impact.
Professor Russel Griggs OBE, chairman of SOSE, said: “We are here to make bold decisions which are in the long-term best interest of the south of Scotland.
“A key part of this is supporting our communities, our environment and promoting long-term collaboration – and what better way to support all of this, than to help support the internationally recognised world class environment for people – that is the biosphere – and which has all of these values at its heart.
“The GSAB has done extremely well up to now and has already established itself as a key player in environmental matters in the south west.
“I hope this funding will allow continued emphasis on collaborative learning, innovation and efforts to find ways of sustaining livelihoods and communities which is one of our main priorities.
“It will also allow them to fulfil the promise they have already demonstrated and become a leader in their field in the south of Scotland and beyond.
“We look forward to working closely with the biosphere team into the future and also taking a place on their board which will also help build our positive relationships going forward.”
And chairwoman of the biosphere partnership board Joan Mitchell said: “The support of SOSE shows real commitment and understanding from the new agency, that having the environment and sustainability at the heart of everything we do will ultimately be better, not just for the environment itself, but also for our future economy, and all the people who live, work and visit this amazing region.
“This funding represents a real step-change for our organisation and demonstrates the value of the ongoing commitment shown by our other funding partners.
“We are hugely excited at the opportunities it creates for us to grow the team; broaden the range of partners we work with and the initiatives we can help deliver.”
Designated in July 2012 by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation, the designation is international recognition of SW Scotland as a world class environment for people and nature.
It covers parts of South and East Ayrshire as well as Dumfries and Galloway.
