Protected Areas and World Heritage Programme

1997 United Nations List of Protected Areas

Biosphere Reserves
(up to December 1997)

Biosphere reserves are areas of terrestrial and coastal/marine ecosystems which are internationally recognized under UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme. They are designed to promote and demonstrate a balanced relationship between people and nature. They are nominated by national governments and remain under the sovereign jurisdiction of the States where they are situated.

The definition, criteria, and designation procedure of biosphere reserves are set out in the Statutory Framework adopted by the UNESCO General Conference in 1995. The Seville Strategy for Biosphere Reserves identifies objectives for biosphere reserves at the site, national and international levels. Many of the sites in the following list have been designated for over ten years and hence are subject to the Periodic Review foreseen under Article 9 of the Statutory Framework. This Review aims to encourage the authorities concerned to revise their biosphere reserves in the light of the Statutory Framework. Biosphere reserves form a World Network for promoting co-operative research and monitoring as well as exchanges of information. A key element of this Network is the development of strong regional sub-networks.