UNESCO Added Thirteen Sites to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves

Thirteen new sites have been added to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, which now numbers 631 sites in 119 countries, including 14 transboundary sites. The new biosphere reserves were designated by the International Coordinating Council of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Program, at its 26th session in Jönkoping (Sweden) and in the East Vättern Landscape biosphere reserve, from 10 to 13 June.

With the new inscriptions, Albania and The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia join the World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

Meanwhile Austria and the United Kingdom decided to withdraw sites from the Network. The withdrawn sites are Gossenköllesee and Gurgler Kamm both in Austria (designated in 1977); North Northfolk in the UK (designated in 1976).

The Man and the Biosphere Program, which was created by UNESCO in the early 1970s, is an intergovernmental scientific program that aims to improve the relationships between people and their natural environment on a global scale. Biosphere reserves are conceived as experimental sites reconciling biodiversity conservation with the sustainable use of resources. New reserves are designated every year by the International Coordinating Committee of the program, which brings together representatives of 34 Member States of UNESCO.

The new biosphere reserves are Valdes Biosphere Reserve (Argentina), Mount Chilbo (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea), Bosque Seco (Ecuador), Mont-Viso / Area della Biosfera del Monviso transboundary biosphere reserve (France/Italy), Sila (Italy), Minami-Alps (Japan), Tadami (Japan), Ak-Zhayik (Kazakhstan), Katon-Karagay (Kazakhstan), Crocker Range (Malaysia), Ohrid-Prespa Transboundary Reserve (Republic of Albania/the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia), Brighton and Lewes Downs (United Kingdom), and Bioma Pampa-Quebradas del Norte (Uruguay).

Source: Travel & Tour World