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 state 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. These are over 500 biosphere reserves in over 100 countries.

Origin of the concept of biosphere reserve

The origin of Biosphere Reserves goes back to the “Biosphere conference “organized by UNESCO in 1968. This was the 1^st 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.

Functions of biosphere reserves

Each biosphere reserve is intended to fulfill 3 basic functions, which are complementary and mutually reinforcing:

1.       Conservation function- to contribute to the conservation of landscapes, ecosystems, species and genetic variation;

2.       Development function-to foster economic and human development which is socio-culturally and ecologically sustainable;

3.       Logistic function-to provide support for research , monitoring , education and information exchange related to local, national and global issues of conservation and development.

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 strongest points of the biosphere reserve concept, facilitating the integration of protected areas into wider landscape.