What are UNESCO Biosphere Reserves?

Biosphere Reserves are a unique network of special places for people and nature. They are created to protect the biological and cultural diversity of a region while promoting sustainable economic development. They are places of cooperation, education and research where local communities, environmental groups, and economic interests can work collaboratively on conservation and development issues.

Biosphere reserves are established through the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Programme on Man and the Biosphere (MAB). In order to be designated a biosphere reserve, a candidate reserve must be nominated by a national government and approved by the MAB programme.

How many Biosphere Reserves are there and where are they?

North Devon is one of a network of Biosphere Reserves throughout the world. The global network provides unique opportunities for exchanges of experience and collaborative research. Currently there are 531 Biosphere Reserves world-wide, spread across 105 countries and all chosen to be representative of their region and to be sites in which to explore and demonstrate approaches to conservation and sustainable development. Some Biosphere Reserves are twinned

• Africa: 69 Biosphere Reserves in 30 Countries - e.g. Mount Kenya. We are twinned with the Malindi-Watamu Reserve in Kenya.

• Arab States: 24 Biosphere Reserves in 11 Countries - e.g. Dana

• Asia: 95 Biosphere Reserves in 27 Countries - e.g. Uluru (Ayers Rock-Mount Olga) and the Great Gobi

• Europe and North America: 255 Biosphere Reserves in 33 Countries- e.g. Niagara Escarpment, the Danube Delta, Yellowstone and the Hawaiian Islands.

• Latin America and the Caribbean: 102 Biosphere Reserves in 19 Countries - e.g. Central Amazon

Who are UNESCO and how do they look after Biosphere Reserves?

UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is a specialized agency of the United Nations. Through the Man and Biosphere Programme (MAB), they are responsible for the Biosphere Reserve concept. The mission of the MAB Programme, as established in 1974, is to achieve a sustainable balance between the sometimes-conflicting goals of conserving biological diversity, promoting economic development, and maintaining cultural values. Biosphere reserves are the sites where this objective is tested, refined, demonstrated and implemented.

There are national Biosphere committees, including a UK one called UK-MAB. It is responsible for the overview of Biosphere Reserves in the UK and reports progress to Euro-MAB and the MAB secretariat in Paris.

What are the designation criteria?

UNESCO launched the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) programme in 1970 and the Biosphere Reserve concept began in 1974. The original criteria for a Biosphere Reserve were primarily about scientific conservation and research and sites were chosen to represent the main ecosystems of the planet. Most UK Biosphere Reserves were designated in 1976 under these criteria.

The designation criteria changed after a review in 1995 (resulting in the Seville treaty). Since then, these 'new style' Reserves must have three complementary functions:

• Conservation
• Learning and Research
• Sustainable Development

and have three different management zones:

• The Core
• The Buffer Zone
• The Transition Zone

North Devon's Biosphere Reserve is the first in the UK to meet these new criteria and conditions.

How many Biosphere Reserves are there in the UK currently?

1. North Devon's Biosphere Reserve. Extended in 2002 from Braunton Burrows National Nature Reserve to become the UK's only ‘New Style' Biosphere Reserve
2. Cairnsmore of Fleet, Merrick Kells and Silver Flowes National Nature Reserves
3. Dyfi National Nature Reserve (Approved to as a new style Reserve on 8th June 2009)
4. Moor House - Upper Teesdale Biosphere Reserve
5. North Norfolk Coast Biosphere Reserve
6. Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve
7. Loch Druidibeg National Nature Reserve
8. Taynish