Once a pass-through village on the Wild Atlantic Way, Mulranny has reinvented itself as a hub for climate action and participatory governance. Building on its Decarbonising Zone plan and a decade of community-led innovation, the village is now aiming for its boldest move yet: joining UNESCO’s global network of Biosphere Reserves.
Where?
Mulranny Co. Mayo
Who started this action?
Community Futures · Mayo County Council · SWMDC · NPWS · TASC
Some quick facts about the project
- Timeline: 2021–ongoing (Mulranny 2030 Vision → Decarbonising Zone Action Plan → UNESCO feasibility)
- Partners: Mulranny Community Futures; Mayo County Council; South West Mayo Development Company (SWMDC); National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), including Mayo Dark Sky Park; Fáilte Ireland and the Clew Bay Tourism Network; Climate Action Regional Office (CARO); Wilderland, Think Tank for Social Change (TASC); and University partners.
- Focus: Climate resilience, regenerative economy, biosphere stewardship
- Status: Feasibility & stakeholder process (UNESCO nomination file targeted for 2027)
- Scope: Linking Mulranny’s seascapes, landscapes and skyscapes under a biosphere framework
Global link: Would join 748 UNESCO Biospheres worldwide (134 countries)
What makes this stand out?
- Bottom-up governance muscle. From Community Futures surveys to Decarbonising Zone Huddles, Mulranny has built a durable participatory system.
- Biosphere as an umbrella. The designation could align dozens of projects (salt marsh, peatland, Dark Skies, Old Irish Goat, regenerative tourism).
- From village to region. While rooted in Mulranny, the concept scales across Mayo, positioning the county in Europe’s Atlantic Ecological Corridor.
- Networking Communities. Farmers, scientists, artists, local authorities and communities co-create the vision.
Highlights
- Mulranny 2030 sets out a future of an empowered community, a low-carbon economy, and a thriving biosphere.
- In 2024, a feasibility study and stakeholder consultations confirmed the potential for UNESCO Biosphere designation.
- Next Step. In 2026, Mulranny stakeholders are preparing to engage with the community and design a shared governance model.
Why this matters
This is not just about conservation. It is about showing how a small coastal village can shape global sustainability pathways. Mulranny’s trajectory demonstrates that community-led action, scaled through frameworks like UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere programme, can connect local resilience with international commitments.
SDG Alignment & Keywords
- SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure
- SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption & Production
- SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities & Communities
- SDG 13 – Climate Action
- SDG 15 – Life on Land
- SDG 14 – Life Below Water
- SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals
Find Out More about the project
Listen to this podcast to learn how the people of Mulranny use the best communications practice to make sure they build alliances within their community
Community Group Best Communications Practice Builds Success
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