UNESCO DESIGNATES 11 NEW BIOSPHERE RESERVES

TAG: GS 3: ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: UNESCO has approved the designation of 11 new biosphere reserves in 11 countries, including Belgium and Gambia for the first time and two transboundary biosphere reserves.

EXPLANATION:

• The other new biosphere reserves are located in Colombia, Dominican Republic, Italy, Mongolia, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Slovenia and Spain.
• With these new biosphere reserves covering a total area of 37 400 km², equivalent to the size of the Netherlands, the World Network of Biosphere Reserves now totals 759 sites in 136 countries.
• These additions were decided during the 36th session of the International Co-ordinating Council, the governing body of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere programme, which is composed of 34 representatives of UNESCO Member States.
• The Council held its session in Agadir, Morocco, from 2 to 5 July following the UNESCO Conference on Soils.
• We will look into the 11 newly designated biosphere reserves.

Kempen-Broek Transboundary Biosphere Reserve (Belgium, Kingdom of the Netherlands)

• Nestled within a picturesque expanse of low-lying terrain adorned with gently undulating sand covers, Kempen-Broek offers a captivating blend of natural wonders and human history.
• Once expansive wetlands have been transformed into farmlands since the 19th century but the area retains remnants of its marshes, punctuated by ponds, open marshlands and bog forests.
• Spanning 264 km², the biosphere reserve is home to approximately 75 000 people, with tourism and agriculture being its economic pillars.
• It is the first biosphere reserve to be designated in Belgium and is shared with the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Darién Norte Chocoano Biosphere Reserve (Colombia)

• Amidst the vibrant Darien ecoregion, within the Biogeographic Chocó, lies a biodiversity bridge connecting the fauna and flora of North and South America, with emblematic species like the majestic harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja) and the colourful poison dart frogs.
• Encompassing a sprawling mosaic of ecosystems ranging from lush tropical rainforests to marine areas along the Gulf of Urabá, it covers a vast territory spanning 3 016 km², almost 40% of which consists in marine areas.
• The biosphere reserve has a diverse population of 24 287, predominantly composed of Indigenous Peoples and Afro-Colombian origins.
• The local communities were actively involved in submitting the proposal for designation to UNESCO, particularly young people and women.
• The management plans for the protected areas within the new biosphere reserve include adopting sustainable farming, enhancing the marketing chain for agricultural products and advancing the Community Ecotourism Plan.

Madre de las Aguas Biosphere Reserve (Dominican Republic)

• This territory is characterized by its diverse topography, which has been sculpted by the Cordillera Central.
• An array of natural wonders ranging from plateaus to cascading waterfalls form an intricate tapestry of landscapes.
• This biosphere reserve features four distinct ecosystems which harbour 88 avian species, 20 of which are endemic and 17 under threat.
• The Sparrowhawk (Buteo ridgwayi) is deemed to be Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, for instance.

Niumi Biosphere Reserve (Gambia)

• Notably, the biosphere reserve encompasses a Ramsar wetland and the UNESCO World Heritage site Kunta Kinteh Island, historically known as a place where enslaved peoples were held before being transported to the Americas during the 16th and 17th centuries.
• With a sprawling expanse of 1 937 km², the biosphere reserves is home to approximately 178 000 inhabitants, who make a living mostly with farming and fisheries.
• It is the first biosphere reserve to be designated in The Gambia.

Colli Euganei Biosphere Reserve (Italy)

• The region’s volcanic history and thermal waters contribute to its allure, making it the largest thermal basin in Europe.
• With a total area of 341 km², the biosphere reserve hosts a population of 111 368.
• Endowed with a diverse array of flora and fauna endemic to the Veneto plain, the biosphere reserve has established partnerships with universities and a comprehensive management framework.
• The Euganean Hills (Colli Euganei) are of volcanic origin. This region is fostering sustainable agriculture and ecotourism while ensuring participatory governance, in order to lay the groundwork for a harmonious coexistence between human economic activities and environmental preservation.

Julian Alps Transboundary Biosphere Reserve (Italy, Slovenia)

• This transboundary biosphere reserve is the result of the merger of two Slovenian and Italian biosphere reserves which had been designated in 2003 and 2019, respectively.
• The transboundary biosphere reserve spans 2 671 km², encompassing core areas of 735 km², buffer zones spanning 438 km² and transition areas totalling 1 497 km² which are home to 109 060 inhabitants across 20 municipalities.
• The area boasts a patchwork of alpine mountains and karst plateaux dotted by waterfalls and pristine lakes. The rich biodiversity includes brown bears, lynxes, otters and wildcats.

Khar Us Lake Biosphere Reserve (Mongolia)

• Situated in the expansive western expanse of Mongolia, Khar Us Lake Biosphere Reserve occupies a vast depression within the Great Lake basin spanning 14 153 km² in the Khovd Province.
• Its diverse ecosystems encompass aquatic realms, deserts, high mountain terrain and steppe landscapes, each contributing to the region’s ecological richness.

yApayaos Biosphere Reserve (Philippines)

• This biosphere reserve in the Province of Apayao is divided into two distinct regions: the Upper Apayao sports rugged terrain with towering peaks, plateaus and valleys, whereas the Lower Apayao features flatlands adorned with rolling hills and plateaus.
• Stretching 180 km, the majestic Apayao River serves as a vital watershed, nurturing 18 tributaries across the province.
• yApayaos is a name that encompasses both the people and diverse flora and fauna living in the area.
• There are various ethnolinguistic groups and ten Indigenous Cultural Communities whose traditions and laws are deeply intertwined with the land and its resources.

Changnyeong Biosphere Reserve (Republic of Korea)

• Located in the central northern region of Gyeongsangnam-do Province, Changnyeong Biosphere Reserve forms a tapestry of biodiversity and cultural heritage.
• Encompassing habitats ranging from the lush forests of Mount Hwawang to the sprawling Upo Wetland and agricultural croplands, the region’s diverse landscapes spans 531 km².
• It serves as a sanctuary for several species, nurturing a delicate balance between freshwater ecosystems, forests teeming with life and sustainable agriculture.

Val d’Aran Biosphere Reserve (Spain)

• Nestled at the western frontier of the Catalan Pyrenees, the biosphere reserve spans approximately 632 km², serving as Catalonia’s sole north-facing valley.
• Its unique position as a watershed between the Mediterranean and Atlantic realms means that it features diverse climatic and biological landscapes. It is also a bastion of Occitan cultural and linguistic heritage.

Irati Biosphere Reserve (Spain)

• Irati Biosphere Reserve is located within the mid-mountain expanse of the western Pyrenees.
• A haven for biodiversity, its expansive forests are dominated by beech and beech-fir, making it the second-largest beech forest in Europe.
• Encompassing the picturesque valleys of Salazar and Aezkoa in the northeastern reaches of Navarre, it spans 537 km² and is home to 2 435 inhabitants.

Biosphere reserves

• Biosphere reserves are ‘learning places for sustainable development’.
• They are sites for testing interdisciplinary approaches to understanding and managing changes and interactions between social and ecological systems, including conflict prevention and management of biodiversity.
• They are places that provide local solutions to global challenges.
• Biosphere reserves include terrestrial, marine and coastal ecosystems.
• Each site promotes solutions reconciling the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use.
• Biosphere reserves are nominated by national governments and remain under the sovereign jurisdiction of the states where they are located.
• Biosphere Reserves are designated under the intergovernmental MAB Programme by the Director-General of UNESCO following the decisions of the MAB International Coordinating Council (MAB-ICC).
• Their status is internationally recognized. Member States can submit sites through the designation process.

These three functions are pursued through the Biosphere Reserves’ three main zones:

• Core areas (3)
  • They comprise a strictly protected zone that contributes to the conservation of landscapes, ecosystems, species and genetic variation
• Buffer zones (2)
  • They surround or adjoin the core area(s), and are used for activities compatible with sound ecological practices that can reinforce scientific research, monitoring, training and education.
• Transition area (1)
  • The transition area is where communities foster socio-culturally and ecologically sustainable economic and human activities.

SOURCE: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/unesco-designates-11-new-biosphere-reserves-1