WORLD
NETWORK OF BIOSPHERE RESERVES (WNRB)- ENVIRONMENT
News: A chance to expand the world’s biosphere footprint
What's
in the news?
● November 3 will be the first ‘The International Day for Biosphere Reserves’, to be celebrated beginning in 2022.
Key
takeaways:
●
The WNBR, an amazing network of sites of
excellence, is a unique tool for cooperation through sharing knowledge,
exchanging experiences, building capacity and promoting best practices.
● Its members are always ready to support each other.
World
Network of Biosphere Reserves:
●
The World Network of Biosphere Reserves
(WNBR) was formed in 1971, as a backbone for biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration, and living in harmony
with nature.
●
The World Network of Biosphere Reserves of
the MAB Programme consists of a dynamic and interactive network of sites of
excellence.
● It is implemented by UNESCO.
Geographical
presence:
●
There are now 738 properties in 134
countries, including 12 in India, 12 in Sri Lanka, and 3 in the Maldives.
●
They are distributed as follows:
○
90 sites in 33 countries in Africa
○
36 sites in 14 countries in the Arab
States
○
172 sites in 24 countries in Asia and the
Pacific
○
308 sites in 41 countries in Europe and
North America
○ 132 sites in 22 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Man
and Biosphere Program:
●
The MAB programme is an intergovernmental scientific programme
that aims to establish a scientific basis for enhancing the relationship
between people and their environments.
● It combines the natural and social sciences with a view to improving human livelihoods and safeguarding natural and managed ecosystems, thus promoting innovative approaches to economic development that are socially and culturally appropriate and environmentally sustainable.
●
There are 12 biosphere reserves of India which have been recognized
internationally under the Man and Biosphere(MAB) Reserve program. These are as
follows.
1.
Nilgiri(First one to be included)
2.
Gulf of Mannar
3.
Sunderban
4.
Nanda Devi
5.
Nokrek
6.
Pachmarhi
7.
Similipal
8.
Achanakmar – Amarkantak
9.
Great Nicobar
10.
Agasthyamala
11.
Khangchendzonga (2018)
12.
Panna(2020).