Frequently Asked Questions
What is the biosphere?
The biosphere comprises all parts of the land, seas, and atmosphere of Earth which living organisms are found.
What is a biosphere reserve?
A biosphere reserve is an area that has been recognised for its unique mix of plants and animals, valued environment and sustainable way of life of the people who live and work within this area. Biosphere reserves are designated by the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme of UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and rely on local cooperation to ensure the careful management of the resources within biosphere reserves that allow development without harming the area for future generations.
What are the functions of biosphere reserves?
Each biosphere reserve should fulfil three functions that work together and reinforce one another.
Is a biosphere reserve similar to those big domes?
No, a biosphere reserve isn't an artificially constructed area. They are real places where people live and work. The local community care for the environment and manage resources in the biosphere reserve that allow stable and sustainable economic growth and development.
What are the benefits of biosphere reserves?
Biosphere reserves provide a framework for projects that improve people's lives and protect the environment in a sustainable way. Communities, local stakeholders and government officials gain an increased awareness of environmental and development issues. Biosphere reserves may attract funding to demonstrate approaches to conservation and sustainable development that can provide lessons to be applied elsewhere.
Who is in charge?
Local communities are integral elements in a biosphere reserve. The communities are key decision makers in how the biosphere reserve is run and governed, ensuring the biosphere reserve meets its functions and objectives.
What is the difference between a biosphere reserve and a natural World Heritage Site?
How does UNESCO ensure that biosphere reserves function properly?
Biosphere reserves are governed by "soft law". Member States of UNESCO commit to apply the Statutory Framework for Biosphere Reserves and undertake a ten-yearly periodic review process for each biosphere reserve. The MAB national committee in each country ensures biosphere reserves fulfil the criteria and function properly; in the UK this is the UK MAB Committee.
How does an area become a biosphere reserve?
An area needs to have a potential core area that is already highly protected for the long-term, for instance as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It does not have to be a National Nature Reserve. The local community also needs to be willing to become a leader in sustainable development on the world's stage.
Following the identification of the core area, local support can be developed by creating a group or getting the local authority involved in the idea of becoming a biosphere reserve. Consultation with the UK MAB Committee will inform about the area's suitability and ideas for zonation. The UK MAB Committee will be able to advise quite quickly if a designation is likely to get their support or not. If the area does not get immediate support from the UK MAB Committee, they will advise what steps are possible to prepare a more successful application. Once the process is well underway, the Committee can recognise the area as a Candidate Biosphere Reserve.
With support from the UK MAB Committee, the application will be developed by the local community. The application form can be downloaded from the UNESCO website (link). The application form is technical; it requires a lot of information and evidence of the community working together to get the designation. There will need to be a lot of documented public participation in planning the biosphere reserve. Other crucial evidence includes functional zonation of the biosphere reserve, a management plan and a good organisational structure that is representative and can deliver the management plan for the biosphere reserve.
Throughout this development phase, which can take two to five years, UK MAB will give support on how the project takes shape. Ultimately the application document will need the formal endorsement (with signatures) of relevant stakeholders in the area, the UK MAB Committee, and the approval of the Minister for Defra (and in devolved administrations, the Minister for Environment or equivalent), before being sent by Defra to the UK Permanent Delegation to UNESCO in Paris.
How does UNESCO decide on designating an area a biosphere reserve?
UNESCO undertakes its own review and approvals procedures and makes the final decision. This includes review by a special international advisory committee of experts and then by the Bureau of the MAB Programme and its International Co-ordinating Council (ICC). The approvals process is undertaken only once a year, so deadlines for submissions are important. Dates for submission can be found on the UNESCO website.
What makes an area suitable to become a biosphere reserve?
Biosphere reserves are renowned for their exceptional environments and a high diversity of life. Biosphere reserves are areas where the special attributes of the area are considered to be potential assets for the local people and local societies. When an area demonstrates good examples of using and preserving these resources, it may become a biosphere reserve.
Are people allowed to live in a biosphere reserve?
To fulfil the criteria for biosphere reserve, people must live in the area. The concept of sustainable development depends on local support and involvement. The people living in the area are essential to biosphere reserves.
For more information please visit this site.
The biosphere comprises all parts of the land, seas, and atmosphere of Earth which living organisms are found.
What is a biosphere reserve?
A biosphere reserve is an area that has been recognised for its unique mix of plants and animals, valued environment and sustainable way of life of the people who live and work within this area. Biosphere reserves are designated by the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme of UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and rely on local cooperation to ensure the careful management of the resources within biosphere reserves that allow development without harming the area for future generations.
What are the functions of biosphere reserves?
Each biosphere reserve should fulfil three functions that work together and reinforce one another.
- A conservation function - to preserve genetic variation, species, ecosystems and landscapes;
- A development function - to foster sustainable economic and human development;
- A logistic function - to support research, monitoring, education and information exchange related to local, national and global issues of conservation and development.
Is a biosphere reserve similar to those big domes?
No, a biosphere reserve isn't an artificially constructed area. They are real places where people live and work. The local community care for the environment and manage resources in the biosphere reserve that allow stable and sustainable economic growth and development.
What are the benefits of biosphere reserves?
Biosphere reserves provide a framework for projects that improve people's lives and protect the environment in a sustainable way. Communities, local stakeholders and government officials gain an increased awareness of environmental and development issues. Biosphere reserves may attract funding to demonstrate approaches to conservation and sustainable development that can provide lessons to be applied elsewhere.
Who is in charge?
Local communities are integral elements in a biosphere reserve. The communities are key decision makers in how the biosphere reserve is run and governed, ensuring the biosphere reserve meets its functions and objectives.
What is the difference between a biosphere reserve and a natural World Heritage Site?
- A biosphere reserve is a representative ecological area with three mutually reinforcing functions: conservation, sustainable development and logistic support for scientific research and education.
- Natural World Heritage Sites must have outstanding universal value in accordance with the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972).
How does UNESCO ensure that biosphere reserves function properly?
Biosphere reserves are governed by "soft law". Member States of UNESCO commit to apply the Statutory Framework for Biosphere Reserves and undertake a ten-yearly periodic review process for each biosphere reserve. The MAB national committee in each country ensures biosphere reserves fulfil the criteria and function properly; in the UK this is the UK MAB Committee.
How does an area become a biosphere reserve?
An area needs to have a potential core area that is already highly protected for the long-term, for instance as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It does not have to be a National Nature Reserve. The local community also needs to be willing to become a leader in sustainable development on the world's stage.
Following the identification of the core area, local support can be developed by creating a group or getting the local authority involved in the idea of becoming a biosphere reserve. Consultation with the UK MAB Committee will inform about the area's suitability and ideas for zonation. The UK MAB Committee will be able to advise quite quickly if a designation is likely to get their support or not. If the area does not get immediate support from the UK MAB Committee, they will advise what steps are possible to prepare a more successful application. Once the process is well underway, the Committee can recognise the area as a Candidate Biosphere Reserve.
With support from the UK MAB Committee, the application will be developed by the local community. The application form can be downloaded from the UNESCO website (link). The application form is technical; it requires a lot of information and evidence of the community working together to get the designation. There will need to be a lot of documented public participation in planning the biosphere reserve. Other crucial evidence includes functional zonation of the biosphere reserve, a management plan and a good organisational structure that is representative and can deliver the management plan for the biosphere reserve.
Throughout this development phase, which can take two to five years, UK MAB will give support on how the project takes shape. Ultimately the application document will need the formal endorsement (with signatures) of relevant stakeholders in the area, the UK MAB Committee, and the approval of the Minister for Defra (and in devolved administrations, the Minister for Environment or equivalent), before being sent by Defra to the UK Permanent Delegation to UNESCO in Paris.
How does UNESCO decide on designating an area a biosphere reserve?
UNESCO undertakes its own review and approvals procedures and makes the final decision. This includes review by a special international advisory committee of experts and then by the Bureau of the MAB Programme and its International Co-ordinating Council (ICC). The approvals process is undertaken only once a year, so deadlines for submissions are important. Dates for submission can be found on the UNESCO website.
What makes an area suitable to become a biosphere reserve?
Biosphere reserves are renowned for their exceptional environments and a high diversity of life. Biosphere reserves are areas where the special attributes of the area are considered to be potential assets for the local people and local societies. When an area demonstrates good examples of using and preserving these resources, it may become a biosphere reserve.
Are people allowed to live in a biosphere reserve?
To fulfil the criteria for biosphere reserve, people must live in the area. The concept of sustainable development depends on local support and involvement. The people living in the area are essential to biosphere reserves.
For more information please visit this site.