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PARIS (UN News Centre) – The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Friday designated 11 new biosphere reserves, recognizing their importance for the conservation of biodiversity and cultural heritage.
The newly designated countries include Colombia, Dominican Republic, Gambia, Italy, Mongolia, Philippines, South Korea and Spain.
In addition, the list includes two transboundary protected areas for the first time, spanning Belgium and the Netherlands and Italy and Slovenia.
UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay stressed that the designations come at a time when humanity is “grappling with the biodiversity crisis and climate change.”
She added: “At a time when the international community is being asked to increase the number of protected areas, these new biosphere reserves play a vital role in sustainably conserving biodiversity, improving living conditions for local populations and indigenous peoples, and promoting scientific research.”
Biosphere Reserves are nominated by national governments and are governed by the sovereign authority of the country in which they are located. They are designated by UNESCO through an intergovernmental designation process under the People and Biodiversity (MAB) Programme.
Important purpose
UNESCO emphasizes that biosphere reserves play an important scientific role as sites for research and monitoring, providing valuable data and insights to inform environmental management and policy decisions.
Furthermore, they contribute to achieving the global development goals set out in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which includes conserving and restoring the majority of Earth’s ecosystems by 2030.
They also promote unique local sustainable development concepts, protect biodiversity and respond to climate change.
Biosphere Reserves around the World
These new sites bring the World Network of Biosphere Reserves to 759 in 136 countries, covering a total area of 7,442,000 square kilometres (about 2,870,000 square miles), an area almost the size of Australia.
Around 275 million people live in biosphere reserves worldwide.
The network covers all major representative natural and semi-natural ecosystems…PACNEWS
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