A chance to expand the world’s biosphere footprint

What is a Biosphere Reserve?

• The Biosphere Reserve is a large protected area for the conservation of wildlife, plant and animal resources, and traditional tribal life in the area.

• A biosphere reserve contributes to the preservation of a region’s biodiversity and culture. 
• 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.
  • Core Areas: It comprises a strictly protected zone that contributes to the conservation of landscapes, ecosystems, species, and genetic variation
  • Buffer Zones: It surrounds or adjoins the core area(s), and is used for activities compatible with sound ecological practices. That can reinforce scientific research, monitoring, training, and education.
  • Transition Area: The transition area is where communities foster socio-culturally and ecologically sustainable economic and human activities.

The ‘Expansion’ Plan

• The ‘South and Central Asia MAB Reserve’ Networking Meeting (where MAB stands for Man and the Biosphere) is planned for 2023, to advance biosphere reserve establishment and management.
• UNESCO is ready to assist in carrying out a professional potentiality analysis.
• In addition, an expert mission has been planned for spring 2023 — to Bhutan, India’s northeast, and the Sundarbans in Bangladesh.

Biosphere Reserve in South Asia

• In South Asia, over 30 biosphere reserves have been established.
• The first one was the Hurulu Biosphere Reserve, in Sri Lanka, with 25,500 hectares of tropical dry evergreen forest.
• In India, the first biosphere reserve was designated by UNESCO in 2000, namely, the blue mountains of the Nilgiris stretching over Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala.
• India’s network of reserves has gone from strength to strength.