Three Functions of a Biosphere Reserve:

Biodiversity Conservation, Sustainable Development, and Capacity Building

Each biosphere reserve is intended to fulfil three basic functions, which are complementary and mutually reinforcing:

  • Conservation of Biodiversity – to contribute to the conservation of landscapes, ecosystems, species, and genetic variation.
  • Sustainable Development – to encourage economic and human development which is socially, culturally, and environmentally sustainable (meets the needs of the present, without compromising the needs of future generations)
  • Capacity Building – to improve the ability and potential of our communities to make sound decisions for conservation and resource use through research, monitoring, education, and information exchange.

The planning that goes into these activities helps residents in a biosphere reserve to identify and meet their own needs, in their own way. It also provides opportunities to draw together a broad base of support from all sectors of the community or communities associated with the biosphere reserve.

 

Three Zones of a Biosphere Reserve:

Core, Buffer, and Transition (Area of Cooperation)

To carry out the complementary activities of biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of natural resources, biosphere reserves are traditionally organized into three interrelated zones, known as the core area, the buffer zone, and a transition area or ‘area of cooperation.’

The zone concept is designed to be flexible and may be used in a variety of ways in order to address local needs and conditions. Ownership arrangements in a biosphere reserve vary as well. The core areas of biosphere reserves are often public lands with legal protection, such as a previously designated national park, wilderness area, or wildlife refuge. However, the core area may be privately owned or belong to non-governmental organizations.

Photo Credit: UNESCO MAB

  • Core area: includes protected areas, as they act as reference points on the natural state of the ecosystems represented by the biosphere reserves. Information from these core areas may be used to assess the sustainability of activities, or the maintenance of environmental quality, in surrounding areas. Managers of the core areas may contribute resources to projects developed with residents, businesses, and other partners of the biosphere reserve.
  • Buffer zone: surrounds or is contiguous to the core area. Activities are organized so they do not hinder the conservation objectives of the core area, but rather help to protect it. The buffer zone might be an area for experimental research, or may involve ways to manage natural vegetation, agricultural land, forests, fisheries, or ranchland to enhance overall quality of production while conserving natural processes and biodiversity. This zone may also accommodate education, training, tourism, and recreation facilities. In many biosphere reserves the buffer zone is regarded as an area in which human use is less intensive than what might be found in the transition area.
  • Transition area, or area of cooperation: the large outer area of a biosphere reserve where people live and work, using the natural resources of the area in a sustainable manner. The term ‘area of cooperation’ underscores the role of cooperation as the main tool to achieve the objectives of the biosphere reserve. It is here that the local communities, conservation agencies, scientists, civil associations, cultural groups, businesses and other stakeholders agree to work together to manage and use the area in a sustainable way that will benefit the people who live there.

 

Benefits of a Biosphere Reserve

  • Biosphere reserves help ensure the environmental, economic, and social sustainability of the region, by encouraging wise use of natural and human resources.
  • They provide practical ways to resolve land use conflicts and to protect biological diversity.
  • A biosphere reserve area gains access to information, expertise, support, and funding through national and international networks.
  • Biosphere reserves encourage diverse local economies to revitalize rural areas.
  • The biosphere concept can be used as a framework to guide and reinforce projects that enhance people’s livelihoods.
  • Biosphere reserves attract academic and government research activity that address local issues and problems.
  • Biosphere reserves serve as learning sites to explore and demonstrate approaches to conservation and sustainable development providing lessons which can be applied elsewhere.
  • Biosphere reserves highlight the distinctiveness of the area and help foster a sense of place amongst residents and visitors.
  • Designation of a biosphere reserve can raise awareness among local people, citizens, and government authorities on environmental and development issues.
  • A biosphere reserve provides a focus for stakeholder cooperation and volunteer involvement.