Biosphere reserve

Biosphere reserves are areas of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems promoting solutions to

reconcile the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use. They are internationally

recognized, nominated by national governments and remain under sovereign jurisdiction of

the states where they are located. Biosphere reserves serve in some ways as 'living

laboratories' for testing out and demonstrating integrated management of land, water and

biodiversity. Collectively, biosphere reserves form a world network: the World Network of

Biosphere Reserves (WNBR). Within this network, exchanges of information, experience and

personnel are facilitated. There are over 500 biosphere reserves in over 100 countries.

How did the biosphere reserve concept start?

The origin of Biosphere Reserves goes back to the "Biosphere Conference" organized by

UNESCO in 1968. This was the 1st intergovernmental conference examining how to

reconcile the conservation and use of natural resources, thereby foreshadowing the present-

day notion of sustainable development. This Conference resulted in the launching of the

UNESCO "Man and the Biosphere" (MAB) Programme in 1970. One of the original MAB

projects consisted in establishing a coordinated World Network of sites representing the

main ecosystems of the planet in which genetic resources would be protected, and where

research on ecosystems as well as monitoring and training work could be carried out. These

sites were named as "Biosphere Reserves", in reference to the MAB programme itself.

What are the functions of biosphere reserves?

Each biosphere reserve is intended to fulfil 3 basic functions, which are complementary and

mutually reinforcing:

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a conservation function - to contribute to the conservation of landscapes, ecosystems,

species and genetic variation;

a development function - to foster economic and human development which is socio-

culturally and ecologically sustainable;

a logistic function - to provide support for research, monitoring, education and

information exchange related to local, national and global issues of conservation and

development.

What are the biosphere reserve zones?

Biosphere reserves are organized into 3 interrelated zones:

the core area

the buffer zone

the transition area

Only the core area requires legal protection and hence can correspond to an existing

protected area such as a nature reserve or a national park. This zonation scheme is applied

in many different ways in the real world to accommodate geographical conditions, socio-

cultural settings, available legal protection measures and local constraints. This flexibility can

be used creatively and is one of the strongest points of the biosphere reserve concept,

facilitating the integration of protected areas into the wider landscape.

What are the benefits of biosphere reserves?

The biosphere reserve concept can be used as a framework to guide and reinforce projects

to enhance people's livelihoods and ensure environmental sustainability. UNESCO’s

recognition can serve to highlight and reward such individual efforts. The designation of a

site as a biosphere reserve can raise awareness among local people, citizens and

government authorities on environmental and development issues. It can help to attract

additional funding from different sources. At the national level, biosphere reserves can serve

as pilot sites or ‘learning places’ to explore and demonstrate approaches to conservation and

sustainable development, providing lessons which can be applied elsewhere. In addition,

they are a concrete means for countries to implement Agenda 21, the Convention on

Biological Diversity (for example the Ecosystem Approach), many Millennium Development

Goals (for example on environmental sustainability), and the UN Decade of Education for

Sustainable Development. In the case of large natural areas which straddle national

boundaries, transboundary biosphere reserves can be established jointly by the countries

concerned, testifying to long-term cooperative efforts.

Who is in charge?

UNESCO does not require any change in law or ownership: each biosphere reserve has its

own system of governance to ensure it meets its functions and objectives. The management

system of a biosphere reserve needs to be open, evolving and adaptive in order for the local

community to better respond to external political, economic and social pressures, which

would affect the ecological and cultural values of the area. Hence it is necessary to set up an

appropriate governance mechanism, for instance a committee or board, to plan and co-

ordinate all the activities of all the actors concerned, each within their own mandate and

competence. Usually a biosphere reserve coordinator is named as the contact person for all

matters dealing with the biosphere reserve.

Who pays?

Everyone. The level of funding depends on the nature and extent of the projects and

activities undertaken. Often, additional funding is not needed: existing budgets can be

aligned to meet shared goals. Industry, tour operators, charitable foundations, research

funding agencies, governments, local municipalities can all help. Continual support from

government - even if only moral and technical - ensures good connections with national

policy and international efforts related to sustainable development. UNESCO can provide

advice and occasionally seed funds to initiate local efforts; these can help broker projects or

to set up durable financial mechanisms.

What is the difference between a biosphere reserve and a natural World Heritage site?

A biosphere reserve is a representative ecological area with 3 mutually reinforcing functions:

conservation, sustainable development and logistic support for scientific research and

education. Collectively, all biosphere reserves form a World Network linked by exchanges of

experience and knowledge. They are part of a UNESCO scientific programme, governed by

a "soft law", the Statutory Framework.

Natural World Heritage sites must be of outstanding universal value in accordance with the

UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972).

Efforts to enhance local development and to promote scientific understanding are means to

ensure the protection of the natural World Heritage values.

In some instances, a core area of a biosphere reserve can meet World Heritage criteria: the

usually larger biosphere reserve can therefore serve as a complementary means to protect

the integrity of the World Heritage site.

Can a biosphere reserve be "de-designated"?

The Statutory Framework makes provision for a periodic review every 10 years. The periodic

review reports are prepared by the concerned authority, and forwarded to the UNESCO

Secretariat. The reports are examined according to a set procedure. In the event that a site

designated as a biosphere reserve does not satisfy the criteria, after a reasonable period of

time the area will no longer be referred to as a biosphere reserve of the World Network. To

date, this procedure has never reached this conclusion: however several counties have

voluntarily withdrawn "non-functional" sites and this has been commended by the MAB

International Coordination Council.

How does UNESCO ensure that biosphere reserves function properly?

Biosphere reserves are not the object of a binding international convention or treaty but are

governed by a "soft law" -- the Statutory Framework for Biosphere Reserves -- adopted by

the UNESCO General Conference and which all countries are committed to apply. In

consequence, the UNESCO Secretariat does not have a ‘police function’ and it is the

responsibility of each country, through its MAB National Committee or Focal Point, to ensure

that the biosphere reserves respond to the criteria and function properly. For this, in most

countries it is not necessary to enact special national legislation for biosphere reserves but

rather to use the existing legal frameworks for nature protection and land/water management.

This being said, an increasing number of countries are now giving biosphere reserves a

special legal status in order to reinforce their application. In the case of a perceived problem,

e.g. plans to construct an oil refinery within the site, the biosphere reserve status should be

used as a platform for dialogue to arrive at an optimal solution. The MAB Secretariat will

remind the concerned MAB National Committee/Focal Point of its responsibility in such

cases.

How do I get involved?

Visit the UNESCO MAB Biosphere Reserve Directory to read details on all biosphere

reserves, including contact information.

Contact also the National MAB Committees and focal points for information on national

action on biosphere reserves, including on plans for new biosphere reserves.

The UNESCO-MAB Secretariat would be interested to receive donations of high quality

photographs of biosphere reserves for its own publications, for which all photo credits would

of course be acknowledged.

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A biosphere reserve is an area of land or water that is protected by law in order to support the conservation of ecosystems, as well as the sustainability of mankind’s impact on the environment. This means that each biosphere reserve aims to help scientists and the environmental community figure out how to protect the world’s plant and animal species while dealing with a growing population and its resource needs. Biosphere reserves were created by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) under a program called Man and the Biosphere (MAB) in 1968. Since its creation, MAB has helped dozens of countries create biosphere reserves. In order to create a reserve, a country must suggest an area of land for the MAB to approve.

There are three main parts to a biosphere reserve. The first part is called the core zone. This zone is strongly protected for the conservation of biological diversity — to make sure that different types of plants and animals are safe from human impact. The second part is called a buffer zone. These zones surround the core zones and provide a space for environmental research, recreation, and tourism.

The last part is called a transition zone. A transition zone is for local communities that have a hand in managing the resources of the area through farming, fisheries, and other non-governmental activities. Ultimately, the ways that these three zones operate depend on the specific needs of the biosphere reserve they are in.

Each biosphere reserve is governed by the country in which it resides. This allows each country or state to use a biosphere reserve for the region’s specific needs, therefore making sure that every reserve is used wisely and for the benefit of the communities around it. Thus, each biosphere reserve has different laws and regulations about its maintenance.

There are numerous benefits to biosphere reserves. Not only can they help raise awareness of mankind’s impact on the environment, but they support local communities in the maintenance of the natural environment around them. A biosphere reserve is also used for environmental recreation and education, meaning people can use the reserve to teach others about the environment, as well as use the land for nature activities, such as hiking and fishing. Biosphere reserves have also been quite helpful to scientists because the reserves create large areas of land for people to research plants, animals, and the overall conditions of the ecosystem.