03/11/2025
Today, we celebrate the International Day of Biosphere Reserves — a day to recognise the remarkable global network of 784 sites in 142 countries, where people and nature thrive together under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme.
Biosphere reserves are living examples of how science, traditional knowledge, and community action can come together to build a more sustainable relationship with our planet. They show that conservation and development are not opposites, but partners in shaping a resilient and inclusive future.
On this special day, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all those who make this vision a reality — the biosphere reserve managers, local communities, researchers, youth, and Indigenous Peoples who lead the way on the ground.
And a special word of appreciation to my dedicated MAB Secretariat team at UNESCO, whose tireless work, passion, and collaboration sustain and strengthen this extraordinary global network.
As we mark this day, we also look ahead to the new MAB Hangzhou Strategic Action Plan—a bold roadmap to strengthen the role of biosphere reserves in addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, and promoting sustainable development.
Together, we continue to demonstrate what is possible when humanity and nature coexist in balance. 🌱
- Antonio D. Abreu, Director of the Division of Ecological and Earth Sciences at UNESCO
Unesco Biodiversity
Ghana Commission for UNESCO
