More than 450 of 714 biosphere reserves are found in mountainous regions.
Representing one-quarter of the Earth's terrestrial surface, mountainous regions harbour relatively untouched ecosystems and habitat to unique biodiversity. They play a crucial life-supporting role in the water cycle, more than half of humanity’s freshwater supply comes from mountains, and hold unique cultural value as landscapes, mountains are home to 15% of the global population (FAO and UNCCD, 2020).
In an effort to improve the protection of mountainous ecosystems and the livelihoods of mountain communities, UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) is relaunching its World Network of Mountain Biosphere Reserves (WNMBR).
Ahead of MAB’s International Co-ordinating Council to take place in Abuja, Nigeria, in September 2021, the MAB Secretariat has called upon Member States to nominate mountain biosphere reserves to operate as Technical Secretariats, which will become global hubs of expertise on mountain science coordinating the network’s activities.
The launch of the WNMBR follows a recommendation laid down by the Lima Action Plan, MAB’s roadmap for 2016-2025, and builds on previous work studying global changes in mountain regions that began in the 1980s. This network will join other specialised MAB thematic networks, such as the World Network of Island and Coastal Biosphere Reserve (WNICBR).
The objectives of the network and its Technical Secretariats will be to foster scientific research between mountain biosphere reserves worldwide and allow for exchanges between local communities on topics such as forest management, agro-pasturalism and eco-tourism. This network will also act as a stepping stone for nominations of new mountain biosphere reserves.
The deadline for the submission of biosphere reserves/institutions for the function of Technical Secretariats of this Network until 10 September 2021.
Today, 450 biosphere reserves are found in mountainous regions, out of the total 714 biosphere reserves worldwide, which all together account for 5% of the world’s terrestrial surface or an area the size of Australia. As such, mountain biosphere reserves alone represent a significant contribution to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) target to place 30% of the Earth’s surface under conservation status by 2030. On course to reach this target, terrestrial protected areas and marine protected areas currently amount to respectively 14.6% and 11.5% of the Earth’s surface.