UNESCO Designated Sites

Biosphere Reserves (BRs) are ‘learning places for sustainable development’. They are sites for testing interdisciplinary approaches to understanding and managing changes and interactions between social and ecological systems, including conflict prevention and management of biodiversity. They are places that provide local solutions to global challenges. Biosphere reserves include terrestrial, marine, and coastal ecosystems. Each site promotes solutions reconciling the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use.

Biosphere Reserves involve local communities and all interested stakeholders in planning and management.

They integrate three main « functions”:

• Conservation of biodiversity and cultural diversity
• Economic development that is socio-culturally and environmentally sustainable
• Logistic support underpinning development through research, monitoring, education and training

These three functions are pursued through the Biosphere Reserves’ three main zones:

• Core areas: they comprise a strictly protected zone that contributes to the conservation of landscapes, ecosystems, species and genetic variation
• Buffer zones: they surround or adjoin the core area(s), and are used for activities compatible with sound ecological practices that can reinforce scientific research, monitoring, training and education
• Transition area: the transition area is where communities foster socio-culturally and ecologically sustainable economic and human activities

In Madagascar, there are 5 Biosphere Reserves:

• Mananara Nord BR
• Sahamalaza-Iles Radama BR
• Littoral de Toliara BR
• Belo-sur-Mer—Kirindy-Mite BR
• Tsimanampesotse – Nosy Ve Androka BR