Isle of Man Post Office is delighted to announce it has successfully become an official project partner of UNESCO Biosphere Isle of Man. Earlier this year Isle of Man’s unique environment and culture was recognised with the award of UNESCO Biosphere status.
This project is all about balancing a vibrant community, healthy environment and resilient economy. The Isle of Man was the first entire Island Nation in the world to receive biosphere status and the award was a tribute to those groups and individuals dedicated to ecological and community development work being carried out across the Island.
Following this accolade, the Isle of Man Post Office (IOMPO) was provided with the opportunity to apply to become a project partner. As part of its own nomination, IOMPO had to demonstrate its alignment with the UNESCO pledges from protecting the Island’s natural resources, developing the economy in a sustainable way, supporting and promoting local cultural heritage, making a positive impact environmentally on the Island and engaging with the local community.
There were many ways in which IOMPO was able to fulfil the criteria from using forestry stewardship council and recycled paper across the business, supporting the Manx economy as a global business and one of the Island’s largest employers, its sponsorship of a number of local clubs, organisations and charities, its energy efficient properties, its engagement with every household on a daily basis to promoting Manx culture on a world stage through its varied stamp issues, to name but a few.
IOMPO’s project partner status couldn’t come at a more apt time as it’s recently launched its Europa stamp issue for 2016 under the theme ‘Ecology in Europe – Think Green.’ The new stamps feature TT Zero, the Energy from Waste plant, a motif to create a greener planet, the Island’s efforts to invest in renewable energy and of course to celebrate the Island’s UNESCO Biosphere status.
Ray Harmer, Chairman of Isle of Man Post Office said: “We are hugely proud to have become a project partner of UNESCO Biosphere Isle of Man. IOMPO has such a deep rooted history and passion for promoting all that’s Manx and showcasing it on a global stage through its various stamp issues which always carry a historical, culture, people related or topical Manx link. We are committed to supporting the Island’s way of life with our energy conscious property portfolio, creating the right work life balance for our valued staff, and ensuring the local economy grows to its full potential by having a diversified Post Office which enables it to deliver sustainable income, profit and employment long into the future.”
Geoffrey Boot MHK, Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture, said: ‘IOMPO does a tremendous amount to promote the Island throughout the world and its values very much align with those of the Biosphere. It’s pleasing to welcome such a high calibre new partner for Biosphere Isle of Man.’
Peter Longworth, Project Lead UNESCO Biosphere Isle of Man (UBIOM project) said: “We are thrilled to welcome IOMPO as a project partner. It is very fitting that IOMPO has the ability to provide a commemorative stamp issue, and the timing is perfect in that Mr Han Qunli from UNESCO HQ in Paris will be on the Island on 1st November. The visit is for UNESCO to formally hand over our membership certificate and welcome the Isle of Man into the World Network of Biosphere Reserves. It will also be very appropriate for IOMPO to provide copies of these stamps to Mr Han Qunli as a memento from his visit, and we hope will be displayed in pride of place in UNESCO Offices in Paris, just as our Membership Certificate to WNBR will be displayed with pride in the Isle of Man.”
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