A Chance to Expand the World’s Biosphere Footprint

Why in news?

• The November 3, 2022 is the first International Day for Biosphere Reserves.
• An event showcasing the contribution of the biosphere reserves to sustainable development be organised at UNESCO Headquarters in collaboration with all the regions of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

 

About International Day for Biosphere Reserves

• The purpose of this day is to provide, on an annual basis, a wake-up call on the sustainable development approach to modern life and the leading and exemplary role that the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) can play in this regard.
• It is a welcome opportunity for the countries in the Himalayan region to establish additional BRs.

 

About World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR)

• Description: It is a network of sites of excellence, and is a unique tool to test and apply socio-ecological solutions through sharing knowledge, exchanging experiences, building capacity and promoting best practices.
• History: It was formed in 1971, as a backbone for biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration, and living in harmony with nature.
• Regional extent: There are now 738 sites in 134 countries, including 12 in India, four in Sri Lanka, and three in the Maldives. These also include 22 transboundary sites.
  • Currently, about 65% of the 738 BRs within the WNBR are located in mountain areas.
• New reserves: Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal do not have biospheres as yet. But the ‘South and Central Asia MAB Reserve’ Networking Meeting (where MAB stands 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 north-east and the Sundarbans in Bangladesh.
• Significance: WNBR members’ support each other through the network is which is of great importance because the ecological carrying capacity of the planet earth has been exceeded.
  • The WNBR is the best concept for ‘Living in Harmony with Nature’ that exists in the United Nations system, making places more important today than ever before, where humans are thriving and relearning how to live with nature.

 

About Biosphere reserves (BRs)

• Description: Biosphere Reserve (BR) is an international designation by UNESCO for representative parts of natural and cultural landscapes extending over large area of terrestrial or coastal/marine ecosystems or a combination thereof.
  • These are ‘Science for Sustainability support sites’ designated to reconcile the conservation of biodiversity, the quest for economic and social development and maintenance of associated cultural values.
• Range: All biosphere reserves are internationally recognised sites on land, at the coast, or in the oceans.
• Incorporation: Governments alone decide which areas to nominate. Before approval by UNESCO, the sites are externally examined.
  • If approved, they will be managed based on a plan, reinforced by credibility checks while remaining under the sovereignty of their national government.

 

Criteria for Designation of Biosphere Reserve

• A site must contain a protected and minimally disturbed core area of value of nature conservation.
• The core area must be a bio-geographical unit and should be large enough to sustain viable populations representing all trophic levels.
• The involvement of local communities and use of their knowledge in biodiversity preservation.
• Area's potential for preservation of traditional tribal or rural modes of living for harmonious use of the environment.

 

About Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme

• About MAB: Launched in 1971, it is UNESCO’s oldest intergovernmental scientific programme that aims to establish a scientific basis for the improvement of relationships between people and their environments.
• New avenues: The MAB Programme, promising new option for mountain areas in the Himalayas recently launched a new thematic network on mountains, namely the World Network of Mountain BRs (WNMBR).
• About WNMBR : This new network, aims to provide constant support to BRs through research, strategic partnerships and collaborations as well as North-South and South- South exchanges of experience.
  • Significance: This approach will enable the WNMBR to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and climatic and biodiversity agreements, without leaving anyone behind.

 

Importance of Biosphere reserves

• Need : Considering the massive long-term threats to human survivability such as biodiversity loss, climate change, pollution and population dynamics, accelerated by the blind belief in technological solutions for all problems, the many more biosphere reserves are needed globally.
• Grass root innovations: Biosphere reserves have developed science-based management plans, where local solutions for sustainable human living and nature conservation are being tested, and best practices applied.

 

Biosphere reserves in India

• In India, the first biosphere reserve designated by UNESCO was the blue mountains of the Nilgiris stretching over Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala and since then India’s network of reserves has gone to 18 currently.
• In the Himalayas, India has already successfully established two Biosphere Reserves, namely Nanda Devi with its Valley of Flowers National Park, and Kanchenjunga, with some of the highest ecosystems in the world.

 

Opportunities in South Asia

• Range: 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.
• Scarce coverage: But many countries in South Asia do not yet have any or enough biosphere reserves. For instance, Nepal and Bhutan are still working on implementing their first BRs.
• Limited capital: The political will is there, but there is a lack of know-how and financial resources.
  • Thus, more financial support from the richer nations and the private sector would be desirable to advance biosphere reserves in these countries.
• Renewed focus: The existence of the new World Network of Mountain Biosphere Reserves provides a welcome opportunity for Bhutan and Nepal to establish their first biosphere reserves and participate in the world network.
  • With at least one biosphere reserve per country in Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal until 2025 (with additional biosphere reserves in India’s North-East and along the coasts), it ensure a better future where people will truly live in harmony with nature.