Abstract
UNESCO exists to promote collaboration among nations through education, science and culture. Within the UK, there are two UNESCO mechanisms to designate areas for management towards this end – World Heritage Site (WHS), Biosphere Reserve (BR). Geoparks are not a UNESCO designation but are supported by them. The aims of this research will be to identify the real and potential social, economic and environmental impact of the Biosphere Reserve designations and the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) programme in the UK, so that their contribution to policy and practice within the UK may be assessed and its potential realised.