The Welsh Assembly Government has announced that the Dyfi Valley in north west Wales has become only the second area in the UK to be officially recognised as a UNESCO Biosphere.

Dyfi Valley, which was originally designated as a Biosphere during the 1970s but had to reapply after changes to the criteria in 1990s, incorporates an area bounded by Aberystwyth, Llanbrynmair, Llanymawddwy and Aberdyfi. There are currently 553 Biosphere areas across the world, including Uluru in Australia and Mount Olympus in Greece, which aim to balance the conservation of local biodiversity with its sustainable use.

Pete Frost of the Countryside Council for Wales, who is also the Welsh representative on UNESCO's UK Man and Biosphere Committee, said: "Being part of UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves will raise the profile of the Dyfi Valley on the world stage. "The elite status offers a golden opportunity to build a vibrant economy based on the area's fantastic natural assets, while also safeguarding local culture."