Biosphere Reserves: Linking Nature & Humanity

In Context 

• Recently, the need was felt to increase the number of Biosphere Reserves in South Asia to ward off an ecological crisis.

Need of Biosphere Reserves

• Biodiversity is the living fabric of our planet and it underpins human well-being in the present and in the future.
  • Its rapid decline threatens nature and people alike.
• According to the Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services released in 2019 by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), the main global drivers of biodiversity loss are climate change, invasive species, over-exploitation of natural resources, pollution and urbanisation.
• The ecological carrying capacity of planet earth has largely been exceeded because of our collective excesses.
• Therefore ,the  need was felt to address this trend with cleaner air, high quality drinking water, and enough food and healthy habitats to ensure that ecosystem services continue to benefit humanity without critically affecting nature’s balance. 
• In the last 50 years, much has been accomplished for the protection of nature, including the establishment of conservation areas, and a number of international conventions have been signed and ratified.
• One of the best mechanisms that has been created is the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, created in 1971 by UNESCO. 

About Biosphere Reserves 

• They are places where humans live in harmony with nature, and where there is an effective combination of sustainable development and nature conservation. 
• They are sites for testing interdisciplinary approaches to understanding and managing changes and interactions between social and ecological systems, including conflict prevention and management of biodiversity. 
• They are places that provide local solutions to global challenges. 
• Biosphere reserves include terrestrial, marine and coastal ecosystems. 
  • Each site promotes solutions reconciling the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use.

Nomination and designation 

• They are nominated by the national government which meet a minimal set of criteria and adhere to a minimal set of conditions for inclusion in the world network of Biosphere reserves under the Man and Biosphere Reserve Programme of UNESCO. 
• They remain under the sovereign jurisdiction of the states where they are located. 
• Their status is internationally recognized. Member States can submit sites through the designation process.

Structure of Biosphere Reserve

• They are demarcated into following 3 interrelated zones:

• Core Zone: Includes protected areas, as they act as reference points on the natural state of the ecosystems represented by the biosphere reserves. Have endemic species of plants & animals. 
  • A core zone is a protected region, like a National Park or Sanctuary/protected/regulated mostly under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. It is kept free from human interference.
• Buffer Zone: The buffer zone surrounds the core zone and its activities are managed in this area in the ways that help in the protection of the core zone in its natural condition.
  • It includes restoration, limited tourism, fishing, grazing, etc; which are permitted to reduce its effect on the core zone.
  • Research and educational activities are to be encouraged.
• Transition Zone: It is the outermost part of the biosphere reserve. It is the zone of cooperation where human ventures and conservation are done in harmony.
  • It includes settlements, croplands, managed forests and areas for intensive recreation and other economic uses characteristics of the region.

Functions of Biosphere Reserves

• Biosphere Reserves involve local communities and all interested stakeholders in planning and management. They integrate three main “functions”:

• Conservation of biodiversity and cultural diversity
• Economic development that is socio-culturally and environmentally sustainable
• Logistic support, underpinning development through research, monitoring, education and training

Global status

• Globally, there are 686 biosphere reserves in 122 countries, including 20 transboundary sites.
• South Asia 
  • In South Asia, over 30 biosphere reserves have been established. 
    • The first one was the Hurulu Biosphere Reserve in Sri Lanka, which was designated in 1977 and comprises 25,500 hectares within the tropical dry evergreen forest.
  • South Asia has a very diverse set of ecosystems. 
    • To begin with, Bhutan, India and Nepal combined have thousands of glaciers, surrounded by lakes and alpine ecosystems.
  • The Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve, established in 2018, is a good model.
    • It includes some of the highest ecosystems in the world, with elevations up to 8,586 metres. 

Indian Scenario 

• In India, the first biosphere reserve was designated by UNESCO in 2000 within the blue mountains of the Nilgiris.
  •  It stretches across the States of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. 

• India has 12 internationally recognised BRs. They are as follows.
  • Nilgiri
  • Gulf of Mannar
  • Sunderban
  • Nanda Devi
  • Nokrek
  • Pachmarhi
  • Similipal
  • Achanakmar-Amarkantak
  • Great Nicobar
  • Agasthyamala
  • Khangchendzonga
  • Panna

Biosphere Reserve Programme

• The Biosphere Reserve Programme is guided by UNESCO Man and Biosphere (MAB) programme as India is a signatory to the landscape approach supported by MAB programme. 
  • UNESCO MAB programme is an intergovernmental scientific program, launched in 1971 by UNESCO, that aims to establish a scientific basis for the improvement of relationships between people and their environments.
• A scheme called Biosphere Reserve has been implemented by the Government of India since 1986, in which financial assistance is given in 90:10 ratio to the North Eastern Region States and three Himalayan states and in the ratio of 60:40 to other states for maintenance, improvement and development of certain items. 

Challenges /Issues 

• Some of the countries do not yet have any or enough biosphere reserves.
•  The political will is certainly there but there is a lack of know-how and financial resources. 
• Therefore ,more financial support from richer nations and from the private sector would be desirable for establishing biosphere reserves in these countries.

What lies ahead ?

• We need many more biosphere reserves and pockets of hope, and various countries  offer countless options.
  • Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal are on the priority list of UNESCO, because they do not yet have any biosphere reserves. 
  • Their governments are already working on their first nomination files.

• It would be important to increase the number of biosphere reserves in India, the Maldives and Sri Lanka.

It will give the realisation to millions of people that a better future is truly possible, one where we can truly live in harmony with nature.