Cristina Narbona: “We have to show that we can adopt a new mode of growth”

• © Ministerio de Medio Ambiente de España
• Cristina Narbona Ruiz

The third World Congress of Biosphere Reserves will take place in Madrid (Spain) from 4 to 9 February. Cristina Narbona, Spanish Minister for the Environment, shares her thoughts on some of the issues to be examined at the meeting, which will bring together nearly 1000 specialists from all over the world, and foresees certain outcomes.

« This event will provide a wonderful opportunity to set up new planning and management for biosphere reserves, using new tools. ».

The biosphere concept was created in 1974 and the first reserves joined the network in 1976. Nearly 30 years later, do you think the concept continues to be compatible with globalization and its by-products, such as mass tourism, development of fishing, desertification and so on?

Not only is this concept compatible with the situation today, but furthermore biosphere reserves must be considered a reference from now on and an example of how to help establish compatible and sustainable economic and social development, in face of one of humanity’s greatest challenges at present, which is the fight against environmental deterioration. These spaces are designed to become models for us to emulate, because they make it possible to demonstrate concretely the viability of sustainable development.

One of the major environmental problems of our time is climatic change. How and to what extent can biosphere reserves help curb it

The Spanish government is entirely aware of the need to control greenhouse gases. That’s why since 2004 we’ve been working frantically to conform to the Kyoto Protocol. In record time, we’ve introduced the European Union emission trading scheme, which for the first time in history puts a legal limit on industrial CO2 emissions.

Biosphere reserves are set up on representative areas with high ecological value, where it is essential to integrate the population and its activities. This makes them ideal spaces from which to observe planetary changes and their repercussions, in addition to their importance as carbon wells.

It is thought that there is a link between loss of biodiversity and underdevelopment. In other words, the less biodiversity there is, the less development. Do you think that biosphere reserves have demonstrated their ability to reverse this way of thinking, or does it seem to you necessary in certain cases to sacrifice the environment in favor of using land for economic gain?

Unfortunately, economic growth in recent years has been accompanied by over-exploitation of natural resources and an acceleration of our ecosystems’ destruction. We must therefore show that we are able to change our mode of growth. Biosphere reserves are an incalculable treasure in terms of landscapes and biological diversity; they represent enormous potential because they can serve as laboratories to implement sustainable development policies and conservation of this biological diversity. In this way they demonstrate, within and outside their own boundaries, how it is possible to create employment and generate wealth in a sustainable way, by preserving and using wisely the incredible natural heritage we possess.

What are the main results you expect at the end of the World Congress taking place in Madrid from 4 to 9 February?

This event will provide a wonderful opportunity to set up new planning and management for biosphere reserves, using new tools. I hope, and I’m convinced, that the Action Plan resulting from the Madrid Congress will have the same impact and the same importance as the one developed at the previous Congress in Seville in 1995.

• Author(s):Bureau de l'information du public de l'UNESCO
• Source:UNESCO / BPI
• 28-01-2008