biosphere reserves

Composed of 610 sites in 117 countries, Biosphere Reserves are sites recognised under UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MAB) programme to promote sustainable development based on local community efforts and sound science. As places that seek to reunite the conservation of biological and cultural diversity and nurture the relationship between people and nature, they are ideal to test and demonstrate innovative approaches to sustainability. Biosphere Reserves also represent a fascinating tool for international collaborations through sharing knowledge, exchanging experiences and building capacity for interdisciplinary collaborations and partnerships. Biosphere Soundscapes will be the first major international project connecting the soundscapes of global Biosphere Reserves.

Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme

The Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme is an Intergovernmental Scientific Programme aiming to set a scientific basis for the improvement of the relationships between people and their environment globally. Launched in the early 1970s, it proposes an interdisciplinary research agenda and capacity building that target the ecological, social and economic dimensions of biodiversity loss and the reduction of this loss.

Concerned with problems at the interface of scientific, environmental, societal and development issues, MAB combines natural and social sciences, economics and education to improve human livelihoods and safeguard natural ecosystems, thus promoting innovative approaches to economic development that is socially and culturally appropriate and environmentally sustainable.

The agenda of the MAB Prorgamme is defined by its main governing body, the International Co-ordinating Council in concertation with the broader MAB Community. Sub-programmes and activities focus on specific ecosystems: mountains; drylands; tropical forests; urban systems; wetlands; and marine, island and coastal ecosystems. Interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral collaboration, research and capacity–building are promoted. For implementation of its interdisciplinary work on-ground, MAB relies on the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, and on thematic networks and partnerships for knowledge-sharing, research and monitoring, education and training, and participatory decision-making.

World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR)

Vision - The World Network of Biosphere Reserves of the MAB Programme consists of a dynamic and interactive network of sites of excellence. It fosters the harmonious integration of people and nature for sustainable development through participatory dialogue; knowledge sharing; poverty reduction and human well-being improvements; respect for cultural values and society’s ability to cope with change - thus contributing to the Millenium Development Goals. Accordingly, the WNBR is one of the main international tools to develop and implement sustainable development approaches in a wide array of contexts.

Mission - To ensure environmental, economic and social (including cultural and spiritual) sustainability through:

• the development and coordination of a worldwide network of places acting as demonstration areas and learning sites with the aim of maintaining and developing ecological and cultural diversity, and securing ecosystem services for human well-being;
• the development and integration of knowledge, including science, to advance our understanding of interactions between people and the rest of nature;
• building global capacity for the management of complex socio-ecological systems, particularly through encouraging greater dialogue at the science-policy interface; environmental education; and multi-media outreach to the wider community.

This content on this page has been reproduced from the official UNESCO website, the reference is available here