The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) last week designated 11 new biosphere reserves, recognizing their importance for conserving biodiversity and cultural heritage.
The new designations are in Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Gambia, Italy, Mongolia, Philippines, the Republic of Korea and Spain.
Additionally and for the first time, the list includes two transboundary reserves, spanning Belgium and the Netherlands, and Italy and Slovenia.
The biosphere reserve in Apayao province is the Philippines’ fourth biosphere reserve, along with those in Albay, Palawan and Puerto Galera.
Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO stressed that these designations come at a time when humanity is “grappling with a biodiversity crisis and climate disruption.”
“At a time when the international community is being called upon to increase the number of protected areas, these new biosphere reserves play an essential role in sustainably preserving the biodiversity, improving the living conditions of local populations and indigenous peoples and fostering scientific research,” she added.
Biosphere reserves are nominated by national governments and remain under the sovereign jurisdiction of the states where they are located. They are designated by UNESCO following an intergovernmental designation process the under the Man and Biodiversity (MAB) Program.
Th biosphere reserve in Apayao is divided into two distinct regions. The Upper Apayao features rugged terrain with towering peaks, plateaus and valleys, while the Lower Apayao highlights flatlands adorned with rolling hills and plateaus. Stretching 180 kilometers, the majestic Apayao River serves as a vital watershed, nurturing 18 tributaries across the province.
Apayao represents both the people and diverse flora and fauna living in the area. There are various ethnolinguistic groups and 10 indigenous cultural communities whose traditions and laws are deeply intertwined with the land and its resources.
UNESCO cited that biosphere reserves play an important scientific role, serving as a site for research and monitoring, providing valuable data and insights that can inform environmental management and policy decisions.
Furthermore, they help in achieving global development targets such as those set by the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, inter alia, on protecting and restoring significant portions of the Earth’s ecosystems by 2030.
They also promote unique local sustainable development ideas, safeguard biodiversity, and combat climate change.
Global biosphere reserves
The new reserves bring the World Network of Biosphere Reserves up to 759 sites in 136 countries and cover a total of 7,442,000 square kilometers (about 2,870,000 square miles), almost the size of Australia.
There are about 275 million people living in biosphere reserves worldwide.
The Network covers all major representative natural and semi-natural ecosystems.
