Lots of friends have requested me to post the details of new Biosphere Reserves designated by UNESCO. In deference to their request I am posting what appears to be a lengthy post.

22 new sites in 17 countries have been added to the UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves. There are now 553 UNESCO Biosphere Reserve sites spread across 107 countries. 3 reserves from India find place in the list. The already existing sites from India are Nilgiri, Gulf of Mannar, Sunderbans and Nanda Devi

Biosphere reserves are areas of terrestrial and coastal marine ecosystems which are internationally recognized under the MAB Programme. Biosphere Reserves are much more than just protected areas as 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.

MAB

UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme was launched in 1971 with the aim of promoting interdisciplinary research, training, and communications in the field of ecosystem conservation and the rational use of natural resources. The MAB Programme is suited to respond to the resuIts of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) and especially the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Nokrek, India, is a biological hotspot in the state of Meghalaya. The reserve has undisturbed natural ecosystems and landscapes. The area is also unique for its wild varieties of citrus fruit

Pachmarhi, India, is located in Madya Pradesh. The uniqueness stems from the interface of tropical, moist and dry as well as sub-tropical hill forests. It is cornucopia for the botanists.

Similipal, India, is a tiger reserve in Orissa.

Lagunas de Montebello, Mexico, is a region of high biological diversity.

Fuerteventura, Spain, is the second biggest island of the Canaries archipelago with a wide array of ecosystems from desert or semi-desert areas to coastal and marine habitats.

Flores Island, Portugal, is part of the western group of the Azores archipelago, created by volcanic activity which started less than 10 million years ago. It has areas with significant landscape, geological, environmental and cultural importance.

Delta del Orinoco, Venezuela, is home to more than 2,000 plant species and a wide array of terrestrial and marine fauna.

Mount Myohyang, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, is a sacred site. According to legend, it was the home of King Tangun, forefather of the Korean people. It provides habitat for 30 endemic plant species.

Shinan Dadohae, Republic of Korea, is an island archipelago in the southwest of Korea. It includes terrestrial and marine areas as well as large tidal flats providing a great diversity of species.

Great Sandy, Australia, a terrestrial, coastal, marine area has the largest rainforest stand on sand in the world.

Giam Siak Kecil – Bukit Batu, Indonesia, is a peatland area in Sumatra. It has two wildlife reserves, which are home to the Sumatran tiger, elephant, tapir, and sun bear.

Mui Ca Mau, Viet Nam, on the southern tip of the country, provides an open laboratory to study ecological succession systems on new alluvial lands.

Jabal Moussa, Lebanon, is located on the shoulders of the western slopes of the northern Mount Lebanon Chain. It faces the Mediterranean Sea on the west side. The area is renowned for the unspoiled historic Adonis Valley with its ancient agricultural terraces and trails which date back to Roman times.

Lajat, Syria, is located in the southernmost point of Syria on the border with Jordan. The area is famous for its biological diversity. The landscape of the region is strikingly beautiful..

Biosphäre Bliesgau, Germany, link two very contrasting landscapes densely populated and urbanized north, and sparsely populated rural south. Extensive research on ecological changes in its urban, suburban and rural areas in the context of global climate change is taking place here.

Swabian Alb, Germany, is located in the European Jura, close to Stuttgart. It has beech forests and extensive orchards, pine and spruce forest and grassland. The area retains the characteristics of 18th and 19th century cultural landscapes and is one of the largest noise-free areas in Baden-Württemberg.

Altaisky, Russian Federation, is located in the North-Eastern and Eastern Altaï spanning major mountain ranges. The area is unique for its biodiversity and cultural heritage.

Vhembe, South Africa, is renowned for its rich cultural and biological diversity. The Venda, Shangaan and Sepedi people, who are the main inhabitants of the area, have a rich history of traditional indigenous knowledge.

Desnianskyi, Ukraine, is located in Eastern Polesie, along the Desna River. It is an important area for environmental research. Studies on rare species such as bears and lynx are going on here.

Geres /Xures, is a transboundary biosphere reserve situated between Portugal and Spain The area is unique due to the richness of forest and peatland ecosystems and a high level of endemic species which had developed under both oceanic and Mediterranean climatic influences.

Cu Lao Cham – Hoi An, Vietnam, is a coastal/island/marine site in the central part of the country famous for its corals, molluscs, crustaceans and seaweed. The biosphere reserve is also home to Hoi An, a cultural world heritage site.

Tasik Chini, Malaysia, is the country’s first site to be designated as UNESCO biosphere reserve. It is located in the southern part of the Malaysian peninsula. The area is famous for its endemic freshwater species.