What is a biosphere reserve?
Biosphere reserves are areas of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems promoting solutions to
reconcile the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use. They are internationally
recognized, nominated by national governments and remain under sovereign jurisdiction of
the states where they are located. Biosphere reserves serve in some ways as 'living
laboratories' for testing out and demonstrating integrated management of land, water and
biodiversity. Collectively, biosphere reserves form a world network: the World Network of
Biosphere Reserves (WNBR). Within this network, exchanges of information, experience and
personnel are facilitated. There are over 500 biosphere reserves in over 100 countries.
How did the biosphere reserve concept start?
The origin of Biosphere Reserves goes back to the "Biosphere Conference" organized by
UNESCO in 1968. This was the 1st intergovernmental conference examining how to
reconcile the conservation and use of natural resources, thereby foreshadowing the presentday notion of sustainable development. This Conference resulted in the launching of the
UNESCO "Man and the Biosphere" (MAB) Programme in 1970. One of the original MAB
projects consisted in establishing a coordinated World Network of sites representing the
main ecosystems of the planet in which genetic resources would be protected, and where
research on ecosystems as well as monitoring and training work could be carried out. These
sites were named as "Biosphere Reserves", in reference to the MAB programme itself.
What are the functions of biosphere reserves?
Each biosphere reserve is intended to fulfil 3 basic functions, which are complementary and
mutually reinforcing:
- a conservation function - to contribute to the conservation of landscapes, ecosystems,
species and genetic variation;
- a development function - to foster economic and human development which is socioculturally and ecologically sustainable;
- a logistic function - to provide support for research, monitoring, education and
information exchange related to local, national and global issues of conservation and
development.
What are the biosphere reserve zones?
Biosphere reserves are organized into 3 interrelated zones:
- the core area
- the buffer zone
- the transition area
A wildlife sanctuary is a space which is set aside exclusively for the use of wild animals, who are protected when they roam or live in that area.Wildlife sanctuaries are also referred to as wildlife refuges in some areas. Typically, a wildlife sanctuary is created through a government mandate which sets the space aside for the use of animal protection, and rangers or other government employees may patrol the area to ensure that no one hunts or otherwise harasses the animals.
There are a number of reasons to establish a wildlife sanctuary. In many cases, a government creates a sanctuary for the purpose of protectingendangered species with a limited territorial range. Since it is not always possible to relocate animals or breed them in captivity, protecting their natural habitat can be very important. Endangered species in wildlife sanctuaries are typically closely monitored, and if their populations grow while under protection, some specimens may be captured for breeding in conservation parks to ensure that the species survives.
