Establishment of the Lake Tana Biosphere Reserve within the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves

Abstract

In June 2015, the Lake Tana Biosphere Reserve was officially nominated as a new addition to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves under the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere program (UNESCO 1971). This official recognition of Lake Tana and its immediate surroundings as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve was the culmination to date of a process which had started many years previously. This chapter describes why a Lake Tana Biosphere Reserve was proposed, the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve approach, the geographic description of the Lake Tana Biosphere Reserve, and why a biosphere reserve is a good solution for the Lake Tana Region. It explains the process followed to prepare the Lake Tana region to become a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, including stakeholder contributions to the application/nomination process, vision and goals of the Lake Tana Biosphere Reserve, and its zonation. Finally, it discusses what will be needed for the successful management of the Lake Tana Biosphere Reserve, including a description of the Reserve management structure and the challenges faced in fulfilling the BR mandate of integration and networking.