The Biosphere Reserve: A Tool for Environmental Conservation and Management

Abstract

The concept of ‘biosphere reserve’ emerged from the programme of Man and the Biosphere (MAB) of which it constitutes an essential part. This paper describes how the concept has progressively evolved as the Programme was being implemented, and as the multiple objectives and characteristics of Biosphere Reserves were clearly identified.The primary function of Biosphere Reserves remains the in situ long-term conservation of plant and animal genetic resources, together with research on ecosystem management and conservation, monitoring of changes in The Biosphere, training of specialists, and environmental education. They are being progressively integrated into a world-wide network of ‘representative ecological areas’ that is intended to cover all major representative natural and semi-natural ecosystems.The paper stresses the flexibility and versatility of the new concept, and gives examples of how this concept is being implemented. It underlines current trends in the building-up of the international network, which now includes 214 Biosphere Reserves in 58 countries, and the future prospects for its full development. The paper also suggests that the direct involvement of the local population in the management of Biosphere Reserves, together with the maintenance of research and monitoring activities in them, constitute the best guarantee for long-term conservation of genetic resources on a world-wide basis. It announces the proposed ‘International Conference on Biosphere Reserves’, which it is hoped can be held in Minsk (USSR) in the autumn of 1983.