Over the last decade, there has been growing sentiment that conservation objectives are better achieved with local people rather than without them. However, the emergence of people, particularly communities, in the context of conservation generates some divergent views. While community is a dynamic and fluid concept, it is often rhetorically applied. This study adopts a frame of reference that recognises the importance of ‘place’ not only spatially, but as an essential aspect of social identity, attachment and ‘sense of community’. Overall, the fellowship project aims to contribute to the foundation program by investigating the social complexities of environmental management. Explored in this paper is UNESCO’s Man in the biosphere (MAB) program, its core principles and application within the Australian context. Specifically, it profiles the Fitzgerald biosphere reserve, situated on the south coast of Western Australia. An important goal of UNESCO’s biosphere model is local engagement in management of both the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. This paper outlines the results of a baseline survey about attitudes, perception, activities and knowledge of the natural environment of people living in western side of the Fitzgerald biosphere reserve.