UNESCO Biosphere Reserves - A Path to Local Holistic Sustainability

This publication presents findings from the Nordic Council of Ministers - Nordic Working Group for Biological Diversity funded project MAB LAB: Man, and the Biosphere - Local Actions for the new global framework for Biodiversity.

The project is based on a fundamental ambition to foster and support local solutions to global challenges by increasing the number of UNESCO biosphere reserves in the Nordic region.

The aim here is to inspire locals to investigate, create ownership, anchoring and action in local communities to establish an UNESCO biosphere reserve.

UNESCO Man and the Biosphere

A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve is an area designated by UNESCO as part of the Man and Biosphere (MAB) programme. Explained by UNESCO in the following way:

“The Man and the Biosphere (MAB) programme is an intergovernmental scientific programme that aims to establish a scientific basis for enhancing the relationship between people and their environments. It combines the natural and social sciences with a view to improving human livelihoods and safeguarding natural and managed ecosystems, thus promoting innovative approaches to economic development that are socially and culturally appropriate and environmentally sustainable.

Its World Network of Biosphere Reserves is a dynamic and interactive network of sites of excellence that foster harmony between people and nature for sustainable development through participatory dialogue; knowledge sharing; poverty reduction and human well-being improvements; respect for cultural values and society’s ability to cope with change.”