In the Indonesian archipelago, home to three quarters of the Earth’s coral species, on the Icelandic coastline with 70% of the country’s plants, and the territory along the Angola Atlantic Ocean coast, depicting savannahs, forests and estuaries between 26 new UNESCO biosphere reserves.
The United Nations Cultural Agency says that reserves are 785 places in 142 countries referred to since 1971. – It is home to the richest and most fragile ecosystems on the planet. However, biosphere stock includes more than strictly protected natural stocks; They are expanded by involving areas where people live and work, and the appointment requires scientists, residents and government officials to work together to balance preservation and research with local economic and cultural needs.
“The concept of biosphere stock is that preserving biodiversity is a pillar of socio -economic development” and can contribute to the economy, said António Abreu program manager, adding that conflict and misunderstanding can cause if local communities are left unresolved.
New reserves in 21 countries were announced on Saturday in Hangzhou, China, where the program adopted a 10 -year strategic action plan involving a study of the effects of climate change, ABREU said.
Biodiversity hot places
New reserves include 52,000 square miles (135,000 square kilometers) in the Indonesian archipelago, Raja Ampat, with more than 75% of the Earth’s coral species, as well as tropical forest and rare endangered sea turtles. The economy depends on fishing, aquaculture, small -scale agriculture and tourism, UNESCO said.
On the west coast of Iceland, the Snæfellsnes Biosphere Reserve landscape features volcanic tops, lava fields, wetlands, meadows and Snæfellsjökull glacier. The reserve of 1,460 square kilometers (564 square miles) is an important shrine of seafood, seals and more than 70% of Icelandic plants, including 330 species of wild flowers and ferns. Its population depends on fishing, sheep’s growing and tourism.
And in Angola, the new Quiçama Biosphere Reserve, along the 206 kilometers (128 miles) on the Atlantic coast, is the “sanctuary of biodiversity” in its volunteers, forests, flood plains, estuaries and islands, UNESCO reports. It is home to elephants, laminates, sea turtles and more than 200 bird species. The livelihoods of the population include a herd of animals, farming, fishing, honey production.
Cooperation is the most important
Residents are important partners to protect biodiversity in reserves and even helped to determine new species, said the program leader ABREU. Meanwhile, scientists also help restore ecosystems to benefit the economy, he said.
For example, in the Philippines, coral reefs around the Pangatalan Island were severely damaged as local fishermen used dynamite to find the population of depleted fish. Scientists helped to design a structure that would help the coral reefs grow and taught fishermen to grow fish through aquaculture so that the reefs could recover.
“They have food and also have fish to sell in markets,” said Abreu.
In the San Tomé and Príncipe African nation, the Biosphere Reserve on Príncipe’s Island encouraged the rebuilding of mangroves that help the buffer against the storm waves and provided an important habitat, Abreu said.
Ecotourism has also become an important industry with biosphere paths and guide bird watching trips. In recent years there has been a new type of owl there.
This year, the Biosphere reserve was added to the San Tomé Island, making the country the first reserve.
Climate and environmental problems
At least 60% of the UNESCO biosphere stocks have been affected by extreme weather associated with climate changes primarily caused by fossil fuel such as coal and gas, including extreme heat and drought and sea level rise, Abeu said.
The agency uses satellite images and computer modeling to monitor changes in coastal zones and other areas, and digitize its historical databases, said Abreu. Information will be used to help determine how best to save and manage reserves.
Some biosphere reserves are also under pressure due to environmental deterioration.
For example, in Nigeria, habitats are threatened by the population of declining critically endangered African forest elephants as cocoa farmers expand to the Ohmo Forest Reserve, protected tropical forests and one of the oldest and largest UNESCO biosphere stocks. The forest is also important to help fight climate change.
In July Trump’s administration announced that the US would withdraw from UNESCO from 2026. December, as in his first administration, saying that we are involved in the national interest. The US has 47 biosphere reserves, mainly federal protected areas.
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