UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere Program (MAB)

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Content

• Panna Biosphere Reserve
• Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve
• Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
• 3rd Nov: International Day for Biosphere Reserve
• Global Situation of Biosphere Reserves under MAB network
• Transboundry Biosphere Reserves
• In 2021 UNESCO Declared World’s first 5 country Biosphere Reserve in Amazon of Europe
• UNESCO World Heritage Convention
• World Heritage Sites in India
• Advantage of getting World Heritage Tag

• Introduction
  • MAB Program is a major effort in biodiversity conservation, launched in 1971.
  • It is an inter-governmental scientific program that aims to establish a scientific basis for improvement of relationships between people and their environments.
  • MAB combines natural and social sciences, economics and education to improve human livelihood, and the equitable sharing of benefits.
• Implementation of the MAB program
  • For implementation of its inter-disciplinary work on ground, MAB relies on the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) and partnership for knowledge sharing, research and monitoring, education and training, and participatory decision making.
• Characteristics of Biosphere Reserves
  • The characteristics feature of biosphere reserves are
    • People are integral component
    • Remain under national jurisdiction but share their experience and ideas nationally, regionally and internationally within the WNBR.
    • Achieve three inter-connected functions: Conservation, development and logistic support
    • Zonation Scheme
    • Multi-stakeholder approach with particular emphasis on the involvement of local communities in management.
    • Integrating cultural and biological diversity, especially the role of traditional knowledge in ecosystem management.
    • Fostering dialogue for conflict resolution in natural resource
• Details about Zonation Scheme
  • While countries maintain flexibility at the national levels with regard to the definition of zones, the zonation needs to ensure that biosphere reserves effectively combine conservation, sustainable use of resources, and knowledge generation through integrated zonation and collaborative management.
  • Each biosphere reserve includes three zones: (Core, Buffer and Transition)
  • The Core Zone
    • Generally the strict nature reserves and wilderness portions are designated as core area in a BR.
    • It should be kept absolutely undisturbed (or minimally disturbed).
    • Non-destructive research and low impact uses (e.g. education) allowed.
    • Key functions of Core Area:
      • Conservation function
      • Range of ecosystem services:
      • Employment opportunities can also complement conservation goals (e.g. environmental education, research, environmental rehabilitation and conservation measures, recreation and eco-tourism).
  • The Buffer Zone usually surrounds or adjoins the core area.
    • It is used for cooperative activities compatible with sound ecological practices including, environmental education, recreation, ecotourism, and applied and basic research.
    • Other than its Buffering functions related to Core Areas it has its own intrinsic stand-alone functions for maintaining anthropogenic, biological and cultural diversity.
    • They can also have important connectivity function in a larger spatial context as they connect biodiversity components within the core areas with those in transition areas.
    • Human activities, if natural within BR, are likely to be permitted to continue if these don’t affect the ecological diversity.
  • Transition Zone
    • Outermost part of biosphere reserve
    • It has a central function in sustainable development which may contain a variety of agricultural activities, settlements, and other uses and in which local communities, management agencies, scientists and non-governmental organizations, cultural groups, economic interests, and other stakeholders work together to manage and sustainably develop the area’s resource.
    • Usually not delimited
• Designation of Biosphere Reserves: International Coordination Council (ICC) of the MAP program, UNESCO takes the final decision on the nomination for designation.
• Relation between Biosphere Reserves and other protected areas (NP, WLS etc)
  • BRs don’t replace other PAs but it further strengthens the protected area
  • Existing PAs can become part of BR without any change in their legal status.
  • Inclusion of such PA in BR will enhance their national value
  • It doesn’t mean the BR are to be established only around National Parks and WLS.
  • Key differences
    • Conservation of overall biodiversity rather than a some specific flagship species.
    • Increases broad-basing of stakeholders, especially local people’s participation and their training, compared to the features of scheme on WLS and NPs.
    • BRs are internationally recognized within the framework of UNESCO’s MAB programme, after receiving consent from the participating countries.
• Biosphere Reserves in India
  • The Indian government has established 18 biosphere reserves in India, (categories roughly corresponding to IUCN Category 5 protected areas).
  • A scheme called Biosphere Reserve is being implemented by GoI since 1986, in which financial assistance is given to states for maintenance, improvement and development of certain items. (60:40 general states, 90:10 – Northeastern and 3 Himalayan states)
  • The Indian National Man and Biosphere Committee constituted by the Central govt identifies new sites, advises on policies and programmes, lays down guidelines, reviews progress and guidelines in the light of evaluation studies and feedback.
  • Management of the biosphere reserves is the responsibility of concerned state/UT with necessary financing assistance, guidelines for management and technical expertise provided by the central government.
  • World Network of Biosphere reserves
    • 12 of the 18 biosphere reserves are a part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, based on the UNESCO Man and Biosphere (MAB) programme list.

• Other Biosphere reserves, not part of MAB include the following:

1) PANNA BIOSPHERE RESERVE

• In 2020, UNESCO included Panna National Park/ TR in the list of UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves. Thus, Panna becomes the third biosphere reserve in MP after Panchmarhi and Amarkantak. MoEF&CC had declared Panna a Biosphere reserve in 2011 itself.
• Details of Panna
  • It is a “Critical Tiger Habitat” in the state of Madhya Pradesh. It is also home to World Heritage Site of Khajuraho.
  • It is characterized by forest and marshy vegetation, with an abundance of rare medicinal plants.
  • Ken river flows through the reserve and the Ken-Betwa project will also be located in it.

CRITICAL TIGER HABITATS:

• Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH) refers to the areas within the tiger reserve that are considered to be the most important for the conservation of tigers.
• These areas are critical for:
  1. Maintaining the breeding population and their prey species, as well as
  2. Providing connectivity to other habitats for long term survival of the tiger population.
• Certain areas under the Tiger Reserves are designated Critical Tiger Reserves under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. These areas are given highest level of protection under the law, and any development or human activity within these areas is strictly regulated to prevent any disturbance to the tiger population.
• The designation of Critical Tiger Habitats has played a significant role in conservation of tigers in India. As of March 2023, there are 54 tiger reserves in India, and each reserve has its own Critical Tiger Habitat area.

2) KANCHENJUNGA BIOSPHERE RESERVE

• About Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve –
• It is one of the highest ecosystems in the world. It falls within the Himalayan global biodiversity hotspots.
• The core zone alone has over 150 glaciers and 73 glacial lakes. Zemu glacier is one of the famous one.
• 86% of the core lies in Alpine zone and the remaining portions are in the Himalayan Wet temperate and sub-tropical moist deciduous forest.
• It is also home to many threatened species including musk deer, snow leopard, red panda, and Himalayan Tahr.
• It is also home to many ethnic communities including Lepcha, Nepalese, and Bhutia.
• Significance
  • The inclusion in the list will boost the unique ecosystem of Sikkim on two counts: Collaborative research and tourism.
    • It will boost the international research collaboration relating to flora and fauna and ecosystem of KBR.
    • Further, this will help Sikkim get more tourists.

3) NILGIRI BIOSPHERE RESERVE

• The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve was the first BR in India established in the year 1986. It is located in the Western Ghats and includes 2 of the 10 biogeographical provinces of India.
• Location and Area: The reserve encompasses 5,520 km2, in the state of Tamil Nadu (2537.6 Km2), Karnataka (1527.4 Km2) and Kerala (1455 km2). It forms an almost complete ring around the Nilgiri Plateau.
• Protected Area in Nilgiri BR include:
  • Nagarhole NP
  • Bandipur National Park
  • Wayanad WLS
  • Mudumalai WLS
  • Sathyamangalam WLS
  • Mukurthi NP
  • Silent Valley NP

• Vegetation type of Nilgiri BR

Vegetational Types of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

• The People:
  • A variety of human cultural diversity can be found in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
  • Tribal groups like the Todas, Kotas, Irullas, Kurumbas, Paniyas, Adiyans, Edanadan Chettis, Cholanaickens, Allar, Malayan, etc., are native to the reserve. Except for Cholanaickens who live exclusively on food gathering, hunting and fishing, all the other tribal groups are involved in their traditional occupation of agriculture.

4) 3RDNOV: INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIOSPHERE RESERVE

• In the year 2022, at the 41st session of UNESCO’s general conference, it was decided that Nov 3 would be celebrated worldwide as the International Day of Biosphere Reserve.
• This international day by UNESCO aims to:
  • Conserve nature, protecting biodiversity and cultural diversity.
  • Promote scientific research, underpinning development through research monitoring, education and training.
  • Promote socio-culturally and environmentally sustainable economic development.
  • To foster the growth of local economics.

5) GLOBAL SITUATION OF BIOSPHERE RESERVES UNDER MAB NETWORK

• As of Nov 2023, there are 738 properties in 134 countries, including 12 in India, four in Sri Lanka and three in Maldives.

6) TRANSBOUNDRY BIOSPHERE RESERVES

• A TBR is first and foremost a cooperation between established Biosphere reserves. UNESCO formally designates it as a TBR if certain conditions are met:
  • A political agreement between the states concerned
  • A Common zoning that promotes the spatialization of conservation and development issues
  • Identification of local and national partners and the establishment.
• TBR is an international recognition of a political will to cooperate in the conservation and sustainable use, through common management, of a shared ecosystem.

7) IN 2021 UNESCO DECLARED WORLD’S FIRST 5 COUNTRY BIOSPHERE RESERVE IN AMAZON OF EUROPE

• In Sep 2021, UNESCO designated Mura-Drava-Danube (MDD) as the world’s first ‘five country biosphere reserve’.
• Unique Features:
  • It is Central Europe’s largest near natural free-flowing river system without any dams across five countries.
  • It is the first biosphere reserve in the world which is commonly shared and managed by five countries.
  • With, 930,000 ha along 700 km of Mura, Drava and Danube Rivers Europe’s largest river protected area.
  • Flagship project for international understanding and regional cooperation.
• The reserve covers 700 kms of the Mura, Drava and Danube rivers and stretches across Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, and Serbia.
• It is home to floodplain forests, gravel, and sand banks, river islands, oxbows, and meadows.
• It is home to continental Europe’s highest density of breeding white-tailed eagle (more than 150 pairs), as well as endangered species such as the little tern, black stork, otters, beavers, and sturgeons.
• It is also an important annual resting and feeding place for more than 250,000 migratory birds, according to WWF. Almost, 900,000 people live in the biosphere reserve.
• The total area of the reserve – a million hectares – in the so called ‘Amazon of Europe‘, makes it the largest riverine protected area on the continent.
• The new reserve represented an important contribution to the European Green Deal and contributes to the implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy in the Mura-Drava-Danube region.
  • The strategy aims to revitalize 25,000 km of rivers and protect 30% of the EU’s land area by 2030.

2. UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE CONVENTION

• In 1972, UNESCO adopted the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.
  • This convention seeks to encourage the identification, protection, and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world, considered to be of outstanding value to humanity.
• Strategic Objectives (the “Five Cs”)
  • Credibility
  • Conservation
  • Capacity Building
  • Communication
  • Communities
• What does the convention contain?
  • The Convention sets out the duties of state parties in identifying potential sites and their role in protecting and preserving them.
    • By signing the Convention, each country pledges to conserve not only the World Heritage sites situated on its territory, but also to protect its national heritage.
  • It explains how the World Heritage Fund is to be used and managed and under what conditions international financial assistance may be provided.
  • The Convention obligates States Parties to report regularly to the World Heritage Committee on the state of conservation of their World Heritage properties.
  • It also encourages States Parties to strengthen the appreciation of the public for World Heritage properties and to enhance their protection through educational and information programmes.
• World Heritage Site
  • A world heritage site is a landmark which has been officially recognized by the UN, specifically by UNESCO.
  • Sites are selected on the basis of cultural, historical, scientific or some other form of significance and they are legally protected by international treaties. UNESCO regards these sites as being important to the collective interests of humanity.
  • The list is maintained by the International World Heritage Program administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 UNESCO member states which are elected by General Assembly.
  • While each World Heritage site remains part of legal territory of state wherein the site is located, UNESCO considers it in the interest of the International Community to preserve each site.
• How UNESCO grants World Heritage Site tag?
  • Step 1: Inclusion in tentative list
    • A tentative list is an “inventory” of properties a country believe deserves to be a World Heritage Site.
  • Step 2: Nomination File
    • After UNESCO includes a property in the Tentative List, the country has to prepare a nomination document.
    • The Nomination file is evaluated by the International Council for Monuments and Sites and the World Conservation Union. These bodies then make recommendations to the World Heritage Committee.
  • Step 3: Consideration by UNESCO World Heritage Committee
    • The country meets once a year to determine whether or not to inscribe each nominated property on the World Heritage List and sometimes defer the decision to request more information from the country which nominated the sites.
    • There are 10 selection criteria – a site must meet at least one.
• 10 Criteria
  • Up to 2004 there were six criteria for cultural heritage site and four criteria for the natural heritage site.
  • In 2005 this was modified so that, now only one set of ten criteria.
  • Nominated sites must be of “outstanding universal value” and meet atleast one of the ten criteria.

 1) WORLD HERITAGE SITES IN INDIA

As of Jan 2024, India has 42 World Heritage sites (34 Cultural, 7 Natural and 1 Mixed)

2) ADVANTAGE OF GETTING WORLD HERITAGE TAG

• Identity: the recognized site gets a new identity world The status itself confirms that the outstanding and exceptional features of the listed site.
• Funding: the site gets fund from World Heritage Fund for its protection
• Tourism: International recognition attracts attention of both domestic and global tourists.
• Protection during Wartime: The site becomes protected under Geneva convention against destruction or misuse during wa
• National governments also become more responsible in the protection of the
• Access to global project management resources, as they are now more willing to participate with the project.

“MARATHA MILITARY LANDSCAPES OF INDIA” WILL BE INDIA’S NOMINATION FOR RECOGNITION AS UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE LIST FOR THE YEAR 2024-25 (JAN 2024)

• It was developed between 17th and 19th centuries, and represent an extraordinary fortification and military system envisioned by the Maratha rulers
• The twelve component parts of this nomination are, Salher Fort, Shivneri Fort, Lohgad, Khanderi fort, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala fort, Vijay durg, Sindhudurg in Maharashtra and Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu.
• The Maratha Military Landscapes of India is nominated under criterion (iii): To bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization that in living or which has disappeared, criterion (iv): to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble, or landscape that illustrates significant stage(s) in human history and Criterion.
• To be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance.

UNESCO INSCRIBES KARNATAKA’S SACRED ENSEMBLE OF HOYSALAS IN WORLD HERITAGE LIST (SEP 2023)

• The ancient site was part of UNESCO’s tentative list since 2014 and now the global body has decided to inscribe Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas in the World Heritage List.
  • The serial property encompasses the three most representative examples of Hoysalas-style temple complexes in Southern India dating from 12th to 13th century.
  • The Hoysala style was created through a careful selection of contemporary temple features and those from the past to create a different identity from neighbouring kingdoms.
    • The shrines are characterized by hyper real sculptures and stone carving that cover the entire architectural surface, a circumambulatory platform, a large-scale sculpture gallery, a multi-tiered frieze, and Sculpture of the Sala legend.
  • Chennakesava Temple was constructed by King Vishnuvardhana of the Hoysala dynasty in the 12th century to commemorate his victory over Cholas.
    • Other temples which are part of the Sacred Ensemble of Hoysala at Belur are Kappe Chennigaraya temple, Veeranarayan Temple, and Ranganayaki Temple which are relatively smaller in size than Chennakesava Temple but are famous for their architectural marvel.
  • Sacred Ensembles of Hoysala at Halebid:
    • Intricate carving, finely detailed sculptures, and star shaped architectural plans are the prime features of sacred ensembles of Hoysala at Halebid.
    • The main Hoysaleswara temple was built in the 12th century during the reign of the King Vishnuvardhana and is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
    • Kedareshwara temple showcases remarkable Hoysala architecture and stone carvings.

SANTINIKETAN: NEW INDIAN SITE IN THE UNESCO’S WORLD HERITAGE LIST (SEP 2023)

• Santiniketan, West Bengal has been inscribed on the UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites during the ongoing 45th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
  • It is India’s 41st UNESCO World Heritage site.
    • Established in Rural West Bengal in 1901, Santiniketan was founded by Rabindranath Tagore, a renowned poet and philosopher.
    • It is an ensemble of historic buildings, landscapes, and gardens, pavilions, artworks, and continuing educational and cultural traditions that together express its outstanding Universal value.
    • The built and open spaces of Santiniketan constitute an exceptional global testimony to ideas of environmental art and educational reform where progressive education and visual art intertwined with architecture and landscape, with the Ashram, Uttarayan, and Kala Bhavan areas forming the prime sites of these practices.