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UNESCO Biosphere reserves

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What are Biosphere reserves (BRs)?

Biosphere reserves serve as 'living laboratories' for testing out and demonstrating integrated management of land, water and biodiversity. Recognised internationally under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) Man and the Biosphere (MAB) programme, these reserves form a global network to promote and demonstrate a balanced relationship between people and nature.

They are places where conservation and sustainable development go hand in hand. BRs are nominated by national governments, through a national MAB Committee (in the UK this work is coordinated by the UK MAB Committee). UK BR sites were originally designated in 1976/7 and were based on National Nature Reserves.    

In 1995, the criteria for accreditation were changed to include a zoning system and currently only two Biosphere Reserve, Braunton Burrows in North Devon and Biosffer Dyfi Biosphere in Wales have been revised to meet the new criteria.  

Biosphere reserves are organised into three interrelated zones:

  1. Core area devoted to nature conservation and legally protected.
  2. Buffer zones, in which only activities compatible with the conservation objectives of the core area can take place. Its boundaries must be clearly defined.
  3. Transition area or area of cooperation, in which sustainable development is promoted and developed. It has a flexible outer boundary where most of the population lives.

Each Biosphere Reserve must include at least one, or more, of each of these zones. They can be creatively applied in many different ways to accommodated local environmental, social and cultural settings.

10 Year Periodic Review of UK Biosphere Reserves

The UK completed a review of its BRs in early 2009.  Of the eight UK BRs three are very active and are currently meeting or are aiming to meet the new criteria established for BRs and were therefore not included within the scope of the review. The remaining five BRs are still formally members of UNESCO’s BRs, but have not been redeveloped in line with the new BR criteria. They are therefore effectively ‘lapsed’ BRs that need to be either re-designated or withdrawn from the UNESCO list. The degree of local stakeholder engagement is a critical factor in this decision.

Phase one of the review highlighted that BRs can contribute to a range of UK social, economic and environmental objectives, but that the emphasis should be on quality and success rather than quantity. 

The phase two review concluded that none of the ‘lapsed’ BRs currently meet the revised UNESCO BR criteria but that all, apart from one (Taynish in Scotland) had the potential to do so. BR stakeholders, with support from the UK MAB Committee, will now need a period of reflection while they decide on the future direction of their respective BRs.

Functioning BRs which are currently meeting or aiming to meet the UNESCO criteria for BRs

  • Braunton Burrows - North Devon, England (re-accredited in 2002)
  • Biosffer Dyfi Biosphere, Wales (re-accredited in June 2009)
  • Silver Flowe/Merrick Kells and Cairnsmore of Fleet in Galloway, Scotland (currently at an advanced stage of re-accreditation)

‘Lapsed’ BRs not currently meeting the UNESCO criteria for BRs

  • Taynish, Scotland
  • Beinn Eighe, Scotland
  • Loch Druidibeg, Scotland
  • Moorhouse-Upper Teesdale, England
  • North Norfolk Coast, England

Biosphere reserve twinning project logoBiosphere reserve twinning project

Search for and talk to other schools in the world with their own biosphere areas, add your own data or learn more about the Africa/North Devon experience at www.ukmab.net

Page last modified: 03 December 2009
Page published: 23 October 2008