A bid to bring nature to people’s doorsteps will be formally submitted to the UN today.

The biosphere bid aims to join up nature conservation and sustainable development to create a better relationship between people and nature.

More than 1,800 people have responded to a consultation to give special environmental protection to the area, which covers from the River Ouse to the Adur, two nautical miles out to sea and along the South Downs National Park boundary.

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If successful, the area would become the sixth biosphere reserve in the UK and share an estimated benefit of £2.3 million a year.

Chris Todd, chair of the Brighton and Hove and Lewes Downs Biosphere Partnership, said: “It’s about trying to get the countryside into cities and towns, and the getting people out into the countryside.

“A lot of studies have shown the benefits of access to nature, whether it’s watching the birds from your window or walking in the woods.

“With housing in Brighton and Hove quite densely built it’s important to create spaces that are green and biodiverse so there’s life within the streets, not just grey concrete.”

UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) will not decide on the bid until the summer of 2014.

It is hoped success will improve quality of life, make the area more attractive to visitors and boost the local economy.

International recognition will put the area on the map as a prime area to research biodiversity.

The Partnership is made up of nearly 40 organisations including Adur District Council, Brighton and Hove Bus Company, Brighton and Hove City Council, Environment Agency, Friends of the Earth, Lewes District Council, National Trust, RSPB, South Downs National Park Authority, Southern Railway, Sussex Wildlife Trust, University of Brighton and the University of Sussex.

The partnership will be busy exploring what projects can be taken forward to improve the area for people and nature.

Mr Todd added: “The hard work starts now. We need to make this into reality.

“We can’t sit around and wait to find out if we’ve been successful otherwise there will be a big delay in getting started.”

The proposed Biosphere covers the whole area between the River Adur and the River Ouse. It is almost exactly the same area as the Isle of Wight.