Biosphere reserves are like system models: their management are based on the principle “System thinking, Landscape planning, Inter-sector coordination and Quality economy” (SLIQ). A new approach being implemented in some biosphere reserves in Vietnam.

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Biosphere Reserves in Vietnam

International experts are meeting during the eighteenth meeting of the International Advisory Committee to review submissions for new biosphere reserves, and extensions to existing ones.

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Representatives from Island biosphere reserves met in February 2012 in Menorca (Spain) where was decided the creation of a newly World Network of Island Biosphere Reserves.

• Summary of the Meeting
• Conclusions
• Island and Coastal Area Network
• MaB Networks

Representatives from Island biosphere reserves to discuss and agree on the creation of a newly World Network of Island Biosphere Reserves.

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• Provisional Conference Programme

• Minorca Island
• Jeju Island

On the occasion of its 40th birthday, the Man and Biosphere programme (MAB) and the World Network of Biosphere Reserves are happy to celebrate 3 November 2011 as the International Day for Biosphere Reserves!

Many events are planned all over the world, including an art exhibition, a film projection and a special session on “Messages for the sustainable futures” in UNESCO.

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The World Network of Biosphere Reserves is the largest network of protected areas in the world, with a surface area of over five million square kilometres, approximately the equivalent of half Europe.

A compendium of information sheets on the 563 biosphere reserves in 110 countries (up to 2010) has been published thanks to the Spanish "Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Medio Rural y Marino" contribution.

Link to the Publication (English / French / Spanish)

Biosphere Reserves

The deadline for submission of new biosphere reserve nominations and periodic reviews is 30 September 2011. The MAB National Committees are invited to submit biosphere reserve nominations (and/or extensions to existing biosphere reserves) in hard copy with the original signatures of endorsement and original maps, and also in electronic form as well as periodic review reports. Countries wishing advice may contact the MAB Secretariat or the Field Offices.

- More information    
- UNESCO biosphere reserves and World Heritage sites: spot the difference 
- 18 new biosphere reserves in 2011  
- The Dresden Declaration, an outcome of the conference "For life, for the Future: biosphere reserves and climate change" (.pdf)

The International Coordinating Council of UNESCO’s MAB programme has added 18 new sites to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR), during its meeting in Dresden, Germany, on the occasion of MAB's 40th anniversary. The Network now numbers 580 sites in 114 countries. Biosphere Reserves were inscribed in Lithuania, Maldives, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Togo for the first time this year. The Council also announced the laureates of the 2011 Young Scientists Awards and of the Michel Batisse Award.

- More information    
- 2011 Young Scientists Awards  
- UNESCO biosphere reserves and World Heritage sites: spot the difference  
- 23rd session of the International Coordinating Council (MAB-ICC)
- The Dresden Declaration, an outcome of the conference "For life, for the Future: biosphere reserves and climate change" (.pdf)

High points of the year include the international conference “For life, for the future: biosphere reserves and climate change”, organized in Dresden in June 2011, where decision makers, managers, experts and other stakeholders will discuss the future of the MAB programme in times of climate change. Subsequent to the conference, the 23rd MAB International Coordinating Council (ICC) will convene in Dresden.

A formal event to mark the anniversary will take place during the 36th session of the UNESCO General Conference this November in Paris.

• The Dresden Declaration, an outcome of the conference "For life, for the Future: biosphere reserves and climate change" (.pdf)

The MAB Programme is honored to welcome Professor Elinor Ostrom, the first woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Economics, for her analysis of economic governance and, in particular, common goods. Professor Ostrom will give a lecture at UNESCO Headquarters on Wednesday, 22 June on Sustainable Social-Ecological Systems.  Photo Gallery

Other high points of the year include the international conference “For life, for the future: biosphere reserves and climate change”, organized in Dresden in June 2011, where decision makers, managers, experts and other stakeholders will discuss the future of the MAB programme in times of climate change. Subsequent to the conference, the 23rd MAB International Coordinating Council (ICC) will convene in Dresden.

A formal event to mark the anniversary will take place during the 36th session of the UNESCO General Conference this November in Paris.

While Member States and key partners are planning local and national celebrations throughout the world, the MAB Secretariat launched a website dedicated to its 40th anniversary to present key milestones in the programme’s history, success stories, and current projects through a series of interviews and articles.

Other high points of the year include the international conference “For life, for the future: biosphere reserves and climate change”, organized in Dresden in June 2011, where decision makers, managers, experts and other stakeholders will discuss the future of the MAB programme in times of climate change. Subsequent to the conference, the 23rd MAB International Coordinating Council (ICC) will convene in Dresden.

A formal event to mark the anniversary will take place during the 36th session of the UNESCO General Conference this November in Paris.

The role of biosphere reserves as experimental areas for testing investment approaches for food security to be discussed as from 24 March 2011.

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Already 40 years of research, experience and practice! As MAB turns 40 this year, the Secretariat is inviting partners and Member states to participate in the celebration in the best possible way, by showcasing accomplishments, looking to the future and proposing new initiatives, and disseminating findings and best practices.

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Organized under the title “Biosphere Reserves: All Hands, All Voices”, this first congress produced a Déclaration that was delivered to the 16th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP16) stressing the importance of Biosphere Reserves as laboratories for climate change monitoring and adaptation.

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• Puerto Morelos Declaration

The International Symposium on Urban Futures and Human and Ecosystem Wellbeing was held in Shanghai (China) on 26-30 October 2010, which was an apt celebration of the Shanghai World Expo’s theme: “Better Cities, Better Life”. The symposium was jointly sponsored by the UNESCO-MAB Programme, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (SCOPE).

Shanghai Declaration

Urban Systems

Integrated Urban Water Management

The 10th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 10) agreed on a number of measures that will ensure that the ecosystems of the planet will continue to sustain human well-being into the future.

Joint Programme UNESCO and SCBD

2010 Declaration

Nagoya Outcomes

COP 10 Decisions

IYB and UNESCO

The International Coordinating Council of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme has added 13 new sites and seven extensions in 15 different countries to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR), which now has 564 sites in 109 countries.

• Photo Gallery
• What is "Man and Biosphere Programme"
• What are "Biosphere Reserves"