Quality Economies

Quality economies: reconciling conservation and utilization of natural resources

Over 500 sites worldwide are biosphere reserves, recognized under UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme. They act as laboratories where biodiversity conservation and sustainable development approaches are tested and developed. They are ideal places to design innovative economic models that benefit local people and maintain cultures, biodiversity and associated values.

Ensuring human benefits from the conservation and use of natural resources and biodiversity
Biosphere Reserves go beyond confined protected areas, and include zones where sustainable economic development is fostered via partnerships with local people. In 2002, UNESCO's MAB (Man and the Biosphere) Programme created a Task Force to develop quality economies based on local community action and entrepreneurship, sound science, public-private sector partnerships and networking.

The Task Force provides policy advice and guidance on key Biosphere Reserves issues, e.g.:

• Labelling, branding and marketing of Biosphere Reserves goods and services
• Conservation finance
• Eco-jobs
• Sustainable Tourism

Biosphere Connections partnership launched among the Star Alliance, UNESCO-MAB, Ramsar and IUCN
Established with the objective of promoting nature conservation and sustainable development, the Biosphere Connections partnership was launched on 14 May 2007 by the Global Airline coalition "Star Alliance" together with UNESCO-MAB, Ramsar Wetlands and IUCN. More