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UNESCO Biosphere Reserves: Expansion, Biodiversity Protection and Emerging Threats

Introduction

UNESCO has designated 26 new Biosphere Reserves across 21 countries, marking the highest number of new designations in 20 years. With this expansion, the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) now includes 784 sites in 142 countries. Since 2018, around one million sq km of additional natural areas have come under protection through the UNESCO biosphere reserve network.

ANALYSIS

UNESCO’s 2025 Expansion of Biosphere Reserves

The new biosphere reserves were designated during the 37th session of the International Coordinating Council of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme, held from 26 to 28 September 2025 in the Lin’An district of Hangzhou, China.In 2025, UNESCO added 26 new biosphere reserves across 21 countries. Six countries received their first biosphere reserve: Angola, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Iceland, Oman and Tajikistan. São Tomé and Príncipe became the first State to have its entire territory designated as a biosphere reserve.UNESCO stated that the World Network of Biosphere Reserves has reached a major milestone by protecting nearly 5% of the planet.

Newly Designated Biosphere Reserves in 2025

5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves

The 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves was held in Hangzhou, China in September 2025. More than 2,000 stakeholders, including scientists, policymakers, community leaders, entrepreneurs and conservationists, participated.The discussions focused on the role of biosphere reserves in:

• Global biodiversity protection
• Sustainable development
• Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
• Paris Agreement on Climate Change
• International Decade of Science for Sustainable Development

The Congress endorsed the Hangzhou Strategic Action Plan (2026–2035) to guide the UNESCO MAB Programme for the next decade.

UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme

The Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme has provided opportunities for local communities to experiment with sustainable development and biodiversity conservation for more than 50 years.Biosphere reserves engage:

• Local governments
• Communities
• Indigenous Peoples
• Universities
• Private sector
• Non-governmental organisations

They work through a participatory and inclusive approach at the landscape level, often across jurisdictions and boundaries.

Biosphere Reserves as “Living Laboratories”

UNESCO describes biosphere reserves as living laboratories where communities, scientists and governments collaborate to balance human development with ecosystem protection.They safeguard some of the planet’s richest and most fragile ecosystems and support:

• Local community initiatives
• Indigenous knowledge systems
• Educational programmes
• Climate and biodiversity research
• Sustainable green jobs
• Agroforestry and regenerative agriculture

Biosphere reserves harbour more than 60% of terrestrial vertebrate species, 12% of mapped mangroves, 10% of salt marshes and 8% of the world’s seagrass meadows.

Global Coverage and Importance

The UNESCO Biosphere Reserve network now includes 784 reserves in 142 countries. These reserves cover more than 8 million sq km, roughly equivalent to the size of Australia, and directly benefit nearly 300 million people.Along with Natural World Heritage Sites and Global Geoparks, UNESCO-designated areas contribute to protecting more than 13 million sq km of terrestrial and marine ecosystems.These sites support the global target of conserving 30% of land and sea by 2030 under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Raja Ampat Biosphere Reserve: Dual Recognition and Conservation Value

Indonesia’s Raja Ampat was designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve on 27 September 2025. It had already been recognised as a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2023. This makes Raja Ampat one of the few places in the world recognised for both geological heritage and biodiversity.Raja Ampat is located off the western tip of New Guinea’s main island. The biosphere reserve spans 13.5 million hectares and includes around 610 islands, of which only 34 are inhabited.UNESCO describes Raja Ampat as a living laboratory of conservation due to its 400-million-year-old rock formations and extraordinary marine biodiversity.

Biodiversity of Raja Ampat

Raja Ampat is known as the “Amazon of the Seas” and lies at the heart of the Coral Triangle.It hosts:

• 75% of the world’s coral species
• More than 1,300 reef fish species
• Five species of rare or endangered turtles
• Important coral reefs and marine habitats

Around 60% of its reefs are in good to excellent condition despite past damage from destructive fishing using explosives and potassium.

Nickel Mining Threat in Raja Ampat

The global recognition of Raja Ampat comes at a time when nickel mining threatens its forests and coral reefs. A report by Auriga Nusantara and Earth Insight found that nickel concessions in Raja Ampat cover around 22,000 hectares, including areas overlapping with coral reefs and marine habitats.Mining operations, including those linked to PT Gag Nikel, have reportedly damaged forest cover and coral reefs. Continued extraction could put at risk:

• 2,470 hectares of reefs and endangered species habitat
• 7,200 hectares of forests

More than 64,000 people depend on Raja Ampat’s ecosystems for livelihoods, making the issue both ecological and social.

Key Debate: Can Recognition Alone Protect Biodiversity?

Raja Ampat’s case raises an important question: whether international recognition alone can protect ecologically sensitive regions from extractive industries.The pressure is linked to growing global demand for nickel, driven by batteries for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage.A five-year management plan for 2025–2029 has been drafted for Raja Ampat. A new institution, the Raja Ampat Islands Biosphere Reserve Management Coordination and Communication Forum, will coordinate local governments, Indigenous representatives and stakeholders.

Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve and Guggenheim Expansion Plan

In Spain’s Basque Country, the proposed expansion of the Guggenheim Museum into areas including the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve was scrapped after local protests.Urdaibai is a 22,068-hectare UNESCO biosphere reserve, designated in 1984. It is an important habitat for local wildlife and migratory birds.Environmental groups and local campaigners opposed the project, arguing that it lacked proper consultation and could damage the reserve’s cliffs and estuarine salt marshes.The project was abandoned due to territorial, urban planning and environmental constraints and limitations.

UNESCO Biosphere Reserves and Biodiversity Targets

A UNESCO report titled “Accelerating the Global Biodiversity Framework by Strengthening Biosphere Reserves” highlights how biosphere reserves can help implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.The report was launched at the 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves in September 2025 and prepared by the UNESCO Chair on Sustainable Heritage and Environmental Management from the University of Bergen.It shows how biosphere reserves connect communities, science and policy to support biodiversity goals.

Examples from the UNESCO Report

The report gives examples of how biosphere reserves support specific biodiversity targets.

These examples show the role of biosphere reserves in managing human-wildlife conflict, reducing harmful business impacts and promoting sustainable livelihoods.

UNESCO-Protected Sites: Wildlife and Human Benefits

Research on UNESCO-designated sites shows that wildlife populations inside such sites have remained relatively stable while global wildlife populations have declined sharply since 1970.UNESCO-designated sites include:

• World Heritage Sites
• Biosphere Reserves
• Global Geoparks

Together, they cover more than 13 million sq km and contain more than 60% of the world’s species. Around 40% of these species are found nowhere else on Earth.They are also home to nearly 900 million people, speaking more than 1,000 languages.

Threats to UNESCO-Designated Sites

UNESCO-designated sites remain under serious environmental pressure. More than 300,000 sq km of tree cover has been lost within UNESCO-designated areas since 2000, mainly due to:

• Agricultural expansion
• Logging

Around 90% of UNESCO sites face high levels of environmental stress, especially extreme heat. Nearly one-fourth of these sites could reach critical climate tipping points by 2050.Possible tipping risks include:

• Glacier disappearance
• Coral reef collapse
• Forest drying
• Forests turning from carbon sinks into carbon sources

Role of Indigenous and Local Communities

Around one-fourth of UNESCO-designated sites overlap with the territories of Indigenous Peoples. Many are managed by Indigenous and local communities.The biosphere reserve model gives importance to community-led stewardship, local knowledge and sustainable livelihoods. This makes biosphere reserves important not only for conservation but also for inclusive development.

STATIC PART

UNESCO

UNESCO contributes to peace and security through multilateral cooperation in education, science, culture, communication and information.

UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme

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Updated – 20 May 2026 ; 08:30 PM | Mongabay