News Highlight
November 3 will be the first “International Day for Biosphere Reserves” to be celebrated beginning in 2022.
Key Takeaway
- The World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) was formed in 1971 as a backbone for biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration, and living in harmony with nature.
- There are now 738 properties in 134 countries, including 12 in India, four in Sri Lanka, and three in the Maldives.
What is a Biosphere Reserve?
- Biosphere reserves are protected regions designed to safeguard flora and fauna.
- It also restores the traditional way of life of the tribes that live nearby. In addition, they protect the area’s biodiversity.
The International Day for Biosphere Reserve
- About
- The International Day for Biosphere Reserves is an invitation to take inspiration from the solutions already implemented in the Biosphere spaces to build genuinely sustainable development everywhere.
- Purpose
- The purpose of International Day for Biosphere Reserves is to provide, on an annual basis, a wake-up call to the world’s population on the sustainable development approach to modern life and the leading and exemplary role that the World Network of Biosphere Reserves can play in this regard.
The World Network of Biosphere Reserves
- About
- The UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) was formed in 1971.
- WNBR covers internationally designated protected areas, known as biosphere reserves, which are meant to demonstrate a balanced relationship between people and nature.
- They are created under the Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB).
- The distribution of the biosphere reserves
- 90 sites in 33 countries in Africa
- 36 sites in 14 countries in the Arab States
- 172 sites in 24 countries in Asia and the Pacific
- 308 sites in 41 countries in Europe and North America
- 132 sites in 22 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.
India and the biosphere reserve
- Nilgiris
- 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 has 12 internationally recognised BRs.
- Nilgiri-Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka
- Gulf of Mannar-Tamil Nadu
- Sunderban-West Bengal
- Nanda Devi-Uttarakhand
- Nokrek-Meghalaya
- Pachmarhi-Madhya Pradesh
- Similipal-Odisha
- Achanakmar-Amarkantak-Chhattisgarh
- Great Nicobar-Andaman And Nicobar islands
- Agasthyamala-Kerala
- Khangchendzonga-Sikkim
- Panna-Madhya Pradesh
Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB)
- About
- MAB is an intergovernmental scientific program launched in 1971 by UNESCO.
- Aims
- It aims to establish a scientific basis for improving relationships between people and their environments.
The need for the protection of the Biosphere Reserve
- The ecological carrying capacity
- The ecological carrying capacity of the planet earth has been exceeded.
- We have to revert to living in harmony with nature — to breathe clean air again, have access to enough good water, eat nutritious and affordable food, and live in dignity.
- Mutual harmony
- Our planet has been set up uniquely in the solar system so that ecosystems can function and provide a home for all living creatures.
- The best concept for ‘Living in Harmony with Nature in the United Nations system is the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR), making these places more important today than ever before, where humans are thriving and thriving and relearning how to live with nature.
- To mitigate long-term threats to human survivability
- 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, we need many more biosphere reserves globally.
- Protect the interest of local communities
- Biosphere Reserves involve local communities and all interested stakeholders in planning and management. They integrate three main “functions”:
- Conservation of biodiversity and cultural diversity
- Economic development that is socio-culturally and environmentally sustainable
- Logistic support, underpinning development through research, monitoring, education and training.
Issues and challenges
- Inadequate number of the biosphere reserves
- Some of the countries in South Asia still need to have enough biosphere reserves.
- For example, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal have yet to have biospheres.
- Lack of financial support
- More financial support from the wealthier nations and the private sector would be desirable to advance biosphere reserves.
Content Source: The Hindu