An Investigation of the Critical Events and Influential Factors to the Evolution of the U.S. Man and the Biosphere Program.

The article addresses the issue of the management and functioning of biosphere reserves (BRs) in Poland. The hypothesis was raised that BRs in Poland are virtual rather than real entities. The study examined how the existence of BRs is reflected in Polish strategic and planning documents. The study examined documents from 1947 to 2022, i.e., Polish legal acts (archived and current), the national Strategy for Responsible Development, voivodeship strategies, and national park protection plans. It evaluated to what extent the biosphere reserves fulfil their role in Poland, as defined by the Man and Biosphere program. To verify the research questions, legal documents (laws and regulations) enacted by the Polish authorities, strategies, and planning documents created at the central and voivodeship levels, protection plans for nature conservation forms covering biosphere reserves, economic plans of entities managing biosphere reserves, and other documents were analyzed. It was shown that: (1) BRs do not have a legal basis in Polish legislation at the national level, despite Poland’s ratification of the Man and Biosphere program, (2) there is a lack of detailed information about BRs in national and voivodeship strategic documents (development strategies and spatial development plans for voivodeships), (3) the existence of biosphere reserves does not translate into spatial planning principles at the local level (municipalities), (4) there is no legal possibility to separate tasks related to biosphere reserves in nature conservation protection plans (national parks, nature reserves, and landscape parks), (5) in the case of transboundary BRs, the Inspection carried out in the Carpathians International Biosphere Reserve (Poland-Ukraine-Slovakia) showed only formal cooperation, not practical. In conclusion, the management of BRs and the implementation of tasks contained in the MaB program, particularly those related to sustainable development of the environment, society, and economy, are ineffective due to the lack of legal authorization in Poland.

A brief historical overview of approaches to study the problem of land use and land degradation in the MAB UNESCO program is provided. Over the past 50 years these issues remain important although the general strategic approach to their research and solving has changed from a multilateral study of land management and land degradation in different geographic and socio-economic conditions with an emphasis on natural diversity, to practices and approaches of sustainable land management in biosphere reserves, as reflected in MAB Strategy (2015-2025) and Lima Action Plan (2016-2025). Many of the MAB initiatives in the field of sustainable land management and combating land degradation have been further reflected and revised in different international programs and conventions. The development of these approaches and the integration of the MAB program with other modern activities can significantly increase the effectiveness of the results of Strategic Direction “A” of the Lima Action Plan on the use of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves as models for sustainable development. Five objectives are proposed for closer cooperation of the MAB program and its network of biosphere reserves with other international and national measures for promoting sustainable land management practices and combating land degradation: 1) using biosphere reserves as priority sites and observatories for comparative assessments of indicators of land degradation neutrality (LDN) for protected areas and adjacent territories in similar bioclimatic conditions; 2) use of data obtained through the series of observations in the territory of protected areas as the most important additional or alternative indicators and measures for the LDN interpretation; 3) biosphere reserves as models for selecting effective solutions reflecting the triad of adaptive actions to avoid degradation, reduce the rate of degradation and restore previously degraded lands; 4) achieving LDN on the territory of biosphere reserves through the implementation of the Aichi biodiversity targets; 5) the use of LDN as a criterion for evaluating the effectiveness of the activities of biosphere reserves. Preliminary results of the LDN assessment for Central Chernozem State Natural Biosphere Reserve and Middle Volga Integrated Biosphere Reserve and their adjacent territories provided to demonstrate the possibility of performing some of the objectives listed.

The Man and the Biosphere Program (MAB) responds to challenges of the Anthropocene through an explicit social-ecological approach. Implemented as a world network of biosphere reserves, MAB aims to increase [eco]system sustainability and resilience globally, via individual model sites for learning and sustainable development. This research provides an in-depth case study of MAB implementation in South Africa using the Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve (CWBR), established in 2007 when a key MAB guiding policy, the Madrid Action Plan came into effect. The study utilized semi-structured in-depth interviews with strategic and operational management, and document analysis. The CWBR prioritizes their role as a landscape coordinator, a driver of socio-economic development and site in which humans derive benefits from healthy natural environments. The CWBR have adopted a non-profit organization cooperative governance model in support of this vision, fulfilling the socio-economic development function primarily through successful international partnerships. Challenges faced include a perceived lack of sufficient government support, limited stakeholder awareness and insufficient resources for project implementation. Over reliance on the pillar of their model, the chief executive officer in the current governance form, is an instrument in their effectiveness, yet carries significant risk. These are learnings useful for other biosphere reserves translating an international designation for a local context.

Sustainability science as a transdisciplinary academic field has taken off since the beginning of the twenty-first century. Recent reflections have traced its practical origins back to the 1980s when sustainable development became popularized. Using academic and governmental literature as primary sources, I argue that these reflections are incomplete and that the practices of sustainability science as espoused today are embedded in the establishment of a normative and pragmatic form of ecosystem sciences that emerged in Europe and North America in the early twentieth century—informed by scientific principles of holism, conservation, and faith in scientific expertise and by social sensibilities of love of nature, morality, and pragmatism. Following World War II, years of scientific and intergovernmental debate led to the creation of an international program of applied research and education in the 1970s—the Man and Biosphere (MAB) Programme of the United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. The most enduring legacy of the MAB Programme is the world network of Biosphere Reserves, first initiated in 1976 and now numbering 669 in 120 countries. While this program is not the only contributor to sustainability science, this network became an embodiment of sustainability science, by implementing a use-inspired, transdisciplinary research and action program at the human–environment interface. A major challenge has been to generate consistent uptake and cross fertilization by scientists internationally. Reviewing the ideas and ideals that helped found the MAB Programme uncovers enduring institutional, methodological and epistemological challenges facing sustainability scientists and suggests opportunities to transform the research and practice of sustainability science so that they better align with contemporary aspirations and values.

UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Program (MAB Program) has been established to improve the relationship between humans and the environment. The studies on the program implementation in several countries are necessary to ensure that conservation takes place optimally. Therefore, this study reviewed existing research on the Man and the Biosphere Program in Malaysia. This review relates in particular to the lessons learned from the management of the Lake Chini biosphere reserve. This study investigated articles about the Tasik Chini Biosphere Reserve from 2018 to 2023. The materials were searched through Google Scholar by using keywords related to Tasik Chini. It was selected to publish articles that had keywords "Tasik Chini," "Chini Lake," or "Tasik Chini Biosphere Reserve." As a result, the implementation of the MAB Program for the Tasik Chini biosphere reserve is carried out using a mixed model that shows several strengths and weaknesses. The strengths of Tasik Chini Biosphere Reserve management are the active participation of the local communities, research, and knowledge of the youth generation. Meanwhile, the weaknesses are the presence of water pollution, mining, and disaster threats. Furthermore, conservation has achieved its general objectives, but it has not been optimal

This paper examines the history of and reasons behind the acceptance by local communities in Japan of Biosphere Reserves, a global initiative established through UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, as well as their challenges and future directions. The effective utilization of international systems necessitates processes which give rise to a range of collective actions through the knowledge translation of the systems concerned. Here “knowledge translation” means translation of knowledge, rules and concepts between global and local actors based on the principle and original criteria established in a general and comprehensive context. In the case of Biosphere Reserves, the translated systems emphasize municipalities as a particularly important actor at the national level, while at the local level, the work of residential researchers, who live for an extended time in the area of research, has been equally important. Adding to the processes, this paper draws on specific case studies to examine the types of areas that should be registered and the kinds of management that they require to develop as platforms for social learning that seek to realize the global principles of the MAB.

Factors influencing the management effectiveness of the biosphere reserve model: The case of Vietnam

Biosphere reserve which has international significance and located within the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme which has terrestrial and/or areas of coastal ecosystems. Conservation of biological diversity is a fundamental approach to solve the continuity of relationship between cultural values and economic development in a sustainable manner. Lake Seyfe and its environs were protected under different protection status as a result of wild life conservation studies. In this study, the lake Seyfe was analyzed as biosphere reserve.

The role of UNESCO is to promote international peace and security through cooperation in the fields of education, science and culture. In view of eradicating illiteracy, overcoming unsustainability of natural resources, confronting environmental problems, safeguarding historical monuments, and preserving natural and cultural heritage, UNESCO develops international research programmes and makes best possible use of new advances in technology, namely remote sensing and GIS, in order to effectively carry out activities in the framework of its programmes. Part one describes remote sensing and GIS use in international programmes such as the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) programme for biosphere reserve development and ecosystem monitoring, management and conservation; the International Hydrological Programme (IHP) for surface and ground water research management; the International Geological Correlation Programme (IGCP) for the creation of a data base on the spectral signatures of rocks and soils; and in...

Biosphere reserves as model regions for sustainability transitions? Insights into the peripheral mountain area Grosses Walsertal (Austria)

Ecological problems — because they involve interactions and interfaces — require for their solution a flexible, interdisciplinary approach. Ecological research can best be supported in an international, intergovernmental framework, but, at first sight, the requirements of such a framework may seem unwieldy to traditionally trained natural and social scientists. Experience acquired in implementing UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme indicates that it is possible to overcome the difficulties of conducting integrated research and to achieve internationally comparable results. The MAB Programme is a good example of both the potential and the limitations of integrated, international ecological research programs. There seem to be three imperatives for success: (1) research must be problem oriented, (2) the. unit selected for study must be sufficiently comprehensive and based on human use systems, and (3) research workers in various natural and social science disciplines and the administrative decision-makers must share responsibility for planning and execution.

UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) is implemented through a world network of biosphere reserves, which offer a holistic people-centered landscape-level conservation approach. When successfully implemented the program enhances social–ecological system sustainability and resilience. However, there remains a research gap in understanding and collating lessons from individual sites for the benefit of the program globally. We assess MAB implementation in South Africa’s oldest biosphere reserve, the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve (KBR; est. 1998). Using semi-structured in-depth interviews with directors and the coordinator, complemented by document analysis, we explore the governance and implementation learnings of the KBR as it has evolved. The KBR program implementation is guided by global necessity, but driven by the local context, which for the KBR translates to a non-profit organization cooperative governance model. The site faces a perceived lack of government financial support and awareness of the ‘biosphere reserve’ concept. Despite these challenges, successes have emerged in the formation of local partnerships to fulfil critical roles in socio-economic development and biodiversity conservation. The learnings from KBR, as it strives to become a model site for sustainability, are useful for other sites similarly operationalizing an international designation for local conditions.

Review: <i>Saving Spaces: Historic Land Conservation in the United States</i>, by John H. Sprinkle Jr.

UNESCO’s MAB Programme promotes a people-centered conservation strategy to strengthen the sustainability of social and ecological systems. However, there exist knowledge gaps regarding its implementation in specific contexts. For this study, a mixed-methods sequential exploratory design was employed. In the first phase, an initial content analysis of the management program of the El Cielo Biosphere Reserve (CBR) and the functions of the statutory framework of UNESCO’s MAB program was conducted. This analysis, which was human-driven but facilitated by artificial intelligence tools, underwent rigorous triangulation and expert validation to strengthen the reliability and robustness of the findings. Subsequently, the Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (METT3) was issued to researchers, community members, civil servants, and former civil servants related to the management of the CBR. The 2024 results (n = 15) were contrasted with those obtained in 2017 (n = 15) using a quantitative approach consisting of descriptive, non-parametric, and Bayesian statistical techniques. We identified some problems in the implementation of the MAB-UNESCO Programme in the CBR, mainly due to the outdated management program and lack of effective governance, as well as the lack of understanding of the implications of being a MAB-UNESCO biosphere reserve. A numerical trend of deterioration in the effectiveness of the CBR’s management was detected, with overall ratings of 44.78% and 29.62% in 2017 and 2024, respectively. This was associated with a lack of regulation, weak coordination among key actors, and a progressive reduction in funding. The findings of this study are useful to guide the transition of the CBR towards a conservation model that responds to current problems and contributes to the advancement of knowledge on the implementation of the MAB Programme in specific contexts.

The United States Biosphere Reserve network was begun in 1974, and currently numbers 38 sites. An investigation into the status of scientific activities in US Biosphere Reserves was conducted in 1981 to determine how well the network was meeting the multiple objectives of the Man and the Biosphere Programme. A survey questionnaire was administered to all US Biosphere Reserves, covering the adequacy of available data-bases, the types of research conducted, the perceived anthropogenic threats, funding, support, facilities, and educational programmes. Based on predominant management emphasis, Biosphere Reserves were designated as experimental or observational (i.e. conservational) for the purpose of analysis of the data.The results of our survey indicate that baseline scientific data, such as aerial photography, bibliographies, weather data, flora and fauna checklists and keys, and topographic maps, are generally available for most of the US Biosphere Reserves; environmental monitoring activities are more comprehensive than ecological research activities, but topic emphasis varies with the management's orientation of the Reserves. Experimentally-oriented Reserves tend to emphasize biological productivity, succession, silviculture, and forest restoration and management, while observationally-oriented Reserves tend towards descriptive studies.In almost all scientific activities, experimental Reserves were scored higher than observational (‘conservation’) Reserves in terms of general value; they have also received significantly more funding for scientific research. In all Reserves, most natural resources are considered to be effectively protected. Observational Reserves report a greater number of anthropogenic threats, including air and water pollution, exotic species, operations problems, resource removal, and visitor impacts; but they are addressing a greater proportion of these threats than are experimental Reserves. Most Reserves communicate natural history and other scientific information to the public, but many do not discuss MAB or its goals. Almost all the 38 US Biosphere Reserves are used for professional training and have basic support-facilities for field-work.Recommendations made for improving the effectiveness of US Biosphere Reserves include: strengthening communications among Reserves within the network; initiating more cooperative studies at all geographic levels; intensifying scientific research in observational (‘conservation’) Reserves; improving the status of ecological research on aquatic systems and soils, and at the ecosystem level in all Reserves; also designing studies which focus on Man as an integral part of the system and how Mankind might exist in improved concert with The Biosphere. The designation of a multiple-site Biosphere Reserve bearing the name of the biogeographic region in which it occurs, is now being used both to conserve a region's representative ecosystems and to foster cooperation among sites. We believe this is a workable approach and an important first step in implementing these recommendations regionally and, so far as they prove practicable, ultimately globally.