The United Nations may declare a Sussex area an international biosphere site today.

The Brighton and Lewes Downs Biosphere partnership will find out if the land will be declared a biosphere when the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization meet on later on today.

A biosphere site declaration is recognition of residents showing innovative approaches to living in harmony with nature.

The Biosphere bid is being led by Brighton & Hove City Council, working in partnership with some forty organisations including other local authorities and public bodies, and voluntary, educational and private sector bodies also.

Chris Todd, chair of the Biosphere partnership, said: “We are now very close to realising the result of three years' strenuous effort by numerous local bodies and individuals, and are keeping everything crossed for a positive outcome from when our efforts to look after and improve our local environment will take a place on the world stage”.

The proposed site covers the South Downs National Park, Brighton and Hove and the neighbouring towns of Lewes, Newhaven, Peacehaven, Shoreham, Telscombe, Southwick and Shoreham Beach.