UNESCO Designates 11 New Biosphere Reserves in 11 Countries

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. 

Why are Biosphere Reserves in the news?

• UNESCO has designated 11 new biosphere reserves across 11 countries, including the first-ever ones in Belgium and Gambia, as well as two transboundary reserves.
• The 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.

New Additions to the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve List

1. Kempen-Broek Transboundary Biosphere Reserve (Belgium, Kingdom of the Netherlands)
2. Darién Norte Chocoano Biosphere Reserve (Colombia)
3. Madre de las Aguas Biosphere Reserve (Dominican Republic)
4. Niumi Biosphere Reserve (Gambia)
5. Colli Euganei Biosphere Reserve (Italy)
6. Julian Alps Transboundary Biosphere Reserve (Italy, Slovenia)
7. Khar Us Lake Biosphere Reserve (Mongolia)
8. Apayaos Biosphere Reserve (Philippines)
9. Changnyeong Biosphere Reserve (Republic of Korea)
10. Val d’Aran Biosphere Reserve (Spain)
11. Irati Biosphere Reserve (Spain)

What are Biosphere reserves? 

• Biosphere reserves are areas designated by UNESCO under its Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme. These reserves aim to promote the sustainable balance between the conservation of biodiversity, the preservation of cultural diversity, and the sustainable use of natural resources. Biosphere reserves serve multiple functions, including:
• Conservation: Protecting genetic resources, species, ecosystems, and landscapes.
• Development: Fostering economic and human development that is culturally and ecologically sustainable.
• Logistic Support: Supporting research, monitoring, education, and information exchange related to local, national, and global issues of conservation and development.

Each biosphere reserve consists of three interrelated zones:

1. Core Area: Strictly protected zone for the conservation of landscapes, ecosystems, species, and genetic variation.
2. Buffer Zone: Surrounds or adjoins the core areas; used for activities compatible with sound ecological practices that can reinforce scientific research, monitoring, training, and education.
3. Transition Area: Where communities foster socio-culturally and ecologically sustainable economic and human activities.

• National governments nominate these reserves and remain under the sovereign jurisdiction of the countries where they are located.

Let us look into the 11 newly designated biosphere reserves.

• Kempen-Broek Transboundary Biosphere Reserve (Belgium, Netherlands)

• • Kempen-Broek spans a scenic lowland region with gentle sand-covered hills. Despite transforming much of its historic wetlands into farmland since the 19th century, the area still features ponds, marshlands, and bog forests. Covering 264 km², it supports around 75,000 residents, with tourism and agriculture as key economic sectors. This reserve is Belgium’s first biosphere reserve and is shared with the Netherlands.

• Darién Norte Chocoano Biosphere Reserve (Colombia)

• • Located in the vibrant Darien ecoregion of Biogeographic Chocó, this reserve serves as a biodiversity bridge between North and South America, home to species like the harpy eagle and poison dart frogs. Spanning 3,016 km², with nearly 40% marine areas along the Gulf of Urabá, it includes diverse ecosystems from tropical rainforests to marine habitats. The population of 24,287, primarily Indigenous and Afro-Colombian, was actively involved in its UNESCO designation. Management plans focus on sustainable farming, improved agricultural product marketing, and advancing ecotourism.

• Madre de las Aguas Biosphere Reserve (Dominican Republic)

• • This reserve’s diverse topography, shaped by the Cordillera Central, includes plateaus and waterfalls. It supports four ecosystems with 88 bird species, 20 of which are endemic and 17 threatened, including the critically endangered Sparrowhawk (Buteo ridgwayi).

• Niumi Biosphere Reserve (Gambia)

• • Spanning 1,937 km², Niumi includes a Ramsar wetland and the UNESCO World Heritage site Kunta Kinteh Island, historically significant in the transatlantic slave trade. Home to about 178,000 people, the reserve’s economy relies on farming and fishing. It is Gambia’s first biosphere reserve.

• Colli Euganei Biosphere Reserve (Italy)

• • Renowned for its volcanic history and Europe’s largest thermal basin, this 341 km² reserve in Veneto is home to 111,368 people. It features diverse endemic flora and fauna and has partnerships with universities for sustainable agriculture and ecotourism, ensuring a balance between economic activities and environmental preservation.

• Julian Alps Transboundary Biosphere Reserve (Italy, Slovenia)

• • This reserve, a merger of two earlier reserves from 2003 and 2019, spans 2,671 km², including core areas, buffer zones, and transition areas across 20 municipalities with 109,060 residents. It features alpine mountains, karst plateaux, waterfalls, and lakes, supporting a rich biodiversity including brown bears, lynxes, otters, and wildcats.

• Khar Us Lake Biosphere Reserve (Mongolia)

• • Located in Mongolia’s Great Lake basin within Khovd Province, this expansive 14,153 km² reserve includes aquatic realms, deserts, high mountains, and steppe landscapes, each contributing to its ecological diversity.

• Apayaos Biosphere Reserve (Philippines)

• • In Apayao Province, this reserve covers both the rugged Upper Apayao with its peaks and valleys, and the flatter Lower Apayao with rolling hills. The 180 km Apayao River, with 18 tributaries, supports diverse flora and fauna and various ethnolinguistic and Indigenous Cultural Communities with deep ties to the land.

• Changnyeong Biosphere Reserve (Republic of Korea)

• • In central northern Gyeongsangnam-do Province, this 531 km² reserve features habitats from Mount Hwawang’s forests to the Upo Wetland and agricultural lands. It balances freshwater ecosystems, forests, and sustainable agriculture, supporting rich biodiversity and cultural heritage.

• Val d’Aran Biosphere Reserve (Spain)

• • Spanning 632 km² in the Catalan Pyrenees, Val d’Aran is Catalonia’s only north-facing valley, acting as a watershed between the Mediterranean and Atlantic. It boasts diverse climatic and biological landscapes and is a stronghold of Occitan cultural and linguistic heritage.
• Irati Biosphere Reserve (Spain)
• Situated in the western Pyrenees, this 537 km² reserve features expansive forests, primarily beech and beech-fir, forming Europe’s second-largest beech forest. It includes the picturesque Salazar and Aezkoa valleys in Navarre and is home to 2,435 people.

Status of Biosphere Reserves in India:

• Globally, there are now 759 reserves across 136 countries, including 24 transboundary sites. India is home to 18 internationally recognised biosphere reserves, with the Nilgiri Reserve being the first. The most recent addition is the Panna Reserve in Madhya Pradesh.
• Out of these eighteen biosphere reserves, twelve are part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, as listed by the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme. World Biosphere Reserve Day, celebrated on November 3, aims to raise awareness about the importance of biosphere reserves.

Importance of Biosphere Reserves Recognition:

• Biodiversity Conservation: Biosphere reserves play a crucial role in safeguarding various species and their habitats, thereby supporting global efforts to conserve biodiversity.
• Sustainable Development: They encourage sustainable development by balancing conservation efforts with socio-economic growth.
• Research and Education: These reserves act as hubs for scientific research and educational initiatives, promoting advancements in sustainable living practices.
• Community Participation: The involvement of local communities in the management and development of these reserves ensures that their needs and traditional knowledge are considered.
• Global Networking: As part of an international network, biosphere reserves gain from shared expertise, resources, and collaborative initiatives.

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