Dr. Thomas Schaaf UNESCO Division of Ecological Sciences Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB)

1. International Concepts of Nature Conservation: UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves and the World Heritage Convention Dr. Thomas Schaaf UNESCO Division of Ecological Sciences Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB)

2. Overview on • Biosphere Reserves • and • World Heritage Convention • Differences and similarities • Can the two concepts be • complementary to one another?

3. Biosphere Reserve concept: • to couple environmental conservation • with sustainable development • World Heritage concept: • to conserve the world’s most • outstanding natural (and cultural) • sites

4. The Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme: provides conceptual and administrative framework for Biosphere Reserves as an intergovernmental programme

5. The Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme - Objectives • Environmental research and conservation • programme • Objective 1: to study and improve the • relationship between people and • their environment • Objective 2: to conserve the environment • through sustainable use of • natural resources (biosphere reserves)

6. The Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme - Origins • 1968: Biosphere Conference (organised by • UNESCO, FAO, WHO, IUCN, ICSU) • 1971: Approval of MAB Programme by UNESCO General Conference • 1971: First session of the MAB International Co-ordinating Council • 1975: first biosphere reserve nominations

7. Hallmark of Biosphere Reserves: three functions • Each Biosphere Reserve is intended to fulfil three basic functions, which are complementary and mutually reinforcing. It is the synergy of these functions which makes it a biosphere reserve

8. Zonation pattern of biosphere reserves • Three inter-related zones: • core area (s), • buffer zone, and • outer transition area or area of co-operation

9. Formally recognised by 188 Member States of UNESCO • Tool for conservation of biodiversity and sustainable use of biological resources (thus contributing to the CBD and the UNCCD) • To-date: 425 biosphere reserves in 95 countries • 30 new nominations received in 2002 (of which 18 were approved) The World Network of Biosphere Reserves

10. Biosphere Reserves in Asia-Pacific Issyk-Kul BR

11. Queen Elizabeth BR Biosphere Reserves in Africa

12. Huascaran BR Biosphere Reserves in South America

13. Everglades BR Biosphere Reserves in Northern America

14. Luberon BR Biosphere Reserves in Europe

15. Statutory Framework of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (Seville, Spain, 1996) Article 1: Definition Article 2: World Network of Biosphere Reserves Article 3: Functions Article 4: Criteria Article 5: Designation procedure Article 6: Publicity Article 7: Participation in the Network Article 8: Regional and thematic networks Article 9: Periodic review Article 10: Role of Secretariat

16. Article 4 (Criteria): • General criteria of a Biosphere Reserve: • Representative ecosystem of a major • biogeographic region; • 2. Significance for biological diversity; • 3. Site for exploring sustainable development • on a regional scale; • 4. Appropriate size to serve the three functions;

17. 5. Zonation should reflect the functions: (a) core area: legally constituted for long-term protection; (b) buffer zone: clearly identified for activities compatible with conservation; (c) transition area for sustainable resource management practises. Legally protected for conservation Research, monitoring, education Sustainable development

18. 6. Involvement of people (public authorities, • local communities, private stake-holders…), • with provisions for: • a management plan or policy; • a designated authority to implement this plan; • programmes for research, monitoring, education • and training.

19. Examples of Biosphere Reserves in Africa

20. Local level: Biosphere Reserve National level: Ministry Research level: University

21. Local level: Biosphere Reserve Local level: Biosphere Reserve National level: Ministry Research level: University Research level: University National level: Ministry National level: Ministry Research level: University Local level: Biosphere Reserve

22. Biosphere Reserves for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in anglophone Africa (BRAAF) A network for collaboration

23. Project Objectives: • (1) Biodiversity conservation: • enhancing the protection of the site. • species inventorying. • (2) Sustainable development: • find alternative income opportunities for • local people, so as to reduce pressure on • the protected areas.

24. Ghana - • Bia Biosphere Reserve • Main partners: • Environmental Protection • Agency; • Wildlife Department; • University of Ghana, • Botany Department; • Local people

25. Bia Biosphere Reserve • Administrative Unit: Bia National Park • Area (hectares): 7,770 • Elevation Range: 145 - 230m • Biome: Tropical humid forests • Biogeographic Province: • Guinean Rain Forest • Year Designated as Biosphere Reserve: 1983 • Principal Monitoring and Research Themes: • Elephant population research • Primate species monitoring

26. Problem: With designation of national park  restriction of natural resources use. Problem solving: to find alternative income opportunities, in particular to satisfy the demands on animal protein for the local populations Solution 1: Establishment of fish ponds in buffer/transition zones

27. Solution 2: a) provision of licenses to collect African giant snails (Acatina acatina) b) establishing snail farms in local communities around the the biosphere reserve (commercial farming)

28. Uganda - Queen Elizabeth BR • Main partners: • Makerere • University; • Uganda Wildlife • Authority • (UWA) • Local people Queen Elizabeth BR

29. Area (hectares): 246,500 • Altitude: +910 to +1,390 • Year designated: 1979 • Current research/monitoring • activities: • Monitoring on soil, sediment and water chemistry and plant dynamics of polluted and degraded areas; • Small mammals; • Inventory of large mammals and their potential utilization; • Fisheries resources; • Studies on resource utilization by local communities, problem animals and food security QUEEN ELIZABETH Biosphere Reserve Major ecosystem type: Tropical dry or deciduous forests/mixed mountain and highland systems Major habitats & land cover types: Undulating grasslands with Euphorbia spp.; Acacia savannas; semi-deciduous tropical high forest; semi-deciduous forest; swamps dominated by Cyperus papyrus and Vossia cuspidata; tundra; salt lakes with salt extraction areas; agroecosystems; pasture land; lakes

30. Problems: • Intensive agricultural land use right at the border • of the protected area; • Eleven fishing villages within the park.

31. Solutions: • Collaboration with local populations (information seminars) • Establishment of bee hives for apiculture to diversify • income opportunities

32. Development of tourism industry, • in particular selling of handicrafts by women

33. Kenya - • Amboseli BR • Main partners: • National Environment • Secretariat; • Kenya Wildlife • Service (KWS); • Amboseli/Tsavo • Group Ranches • Association; • Local people. Amboseli BR

34. Area (hectrares): 483,206 • Altitude: 1,000 to +1,300 • Year designated: 1991 • Current principal research/ monitoring activities: • Ecology of the Amboseli Basin • Long term baboon, vervet and elephant studies • Tourism impacts assessment • Ecosystem restoration • Buffer zone development analysis • Studies on change of swamps • Setting up of game ranches • GIS applications for reserve management Major ecosystem type: Tropical grasslands and savanna Major habitats & land cover types: Commiphora/Acacia bushland; saline/alkaline plains; Acacia woodland with yellow-barked acacia; swampland supporting sedges (Cyperus spp.) including Cyperus papyrus; agroecosystems with tomatoes, onions, maize, bananas etc.

35. Problems: • Resource use conflicts with local populations • (Masaai); • Tourism pressure on restricted area • (national park)

36. Solutions: Establishment of private group ranches in collaboration with Masaai  Reduced competition on park resources (less poaching)  Reduced tourist pressure on national park and diffused it to surrounding areas.

37. Results of BRAAF project: • Information exchange among countries through annual meetings on a rotation principle. • New ideas for resource use and resource management (apiculture, snail farming). • At each site: in-depth species inventorying. • Universities carried out scientific studies at each site. • Sensitization of local people on biosphere reserve concept. • Based on needs of local people: introduction of schemes for income generation. • “Positive competition” effect.

38. The World Heritage Convention Basics for the protection of natural sites and cultural landscapes

39. The World Heritage Concept There is a set of places that are of such outstanding universal value that their deterioration or destruction constitutes a loss to the heritage of all humanity, not just to the country in which it is located. These cultural and natural places make up the world’s heritage.

40. The World Heritage List: • To-date, the World Heritage Committee has inscribed 730 properties on the World Heritage List, of which: • 563 cultural sites; • 144 natural sites; and • 23 mixed properties • in 125 States Parties

41. Genesis of the Convention Threats to the world’s heritage became increasingly apparent during the 1960’s; e.g. • Potential loss of the Nubian Monuments (Egypt) under the Aswan High Dam. • Floods in Venice (Italy) damaged buildings and frescos; Independent moves to create international instruments for the protection of cultural heritage and of natural heritage  initiative to form a single legal instrument.

42. Nomination of sites • Only a State Party can nominate a site on its territory; • Site can be justified on the basis of cultural heritage, natural heritage or a combination; • Qualities of the site are assessed against a set of criteria developed by the WH Committee.

43. The Convention 1972 World Heritage Convention 1975 Convention operational 1978 First nature site inscribed 1978 Operational Guidelines 1992 Cultural Landscapes Categories

44. Role of the World Heritage Convention • Seeks to identify and protect the world’s heritage through a system of collective assistance and co-operation; • Intended to compliment, not replace, the actions of States Parties; • Establishes the World Heritage Committee, World Heritage List, the List of World Heritage in Danger, & the World Heritage Fund.

45. Nomination procedure • 1) Countriesbecome “State Parties” by signing • the World Heritage Convention and pledging • to protect their cultural/natural heritage; • 2) State Party: • makes a tentative list by selecting sites con- • sidered to be of “outstanding universal value”. • Nominates sites for inscription on the WH List. • Sends nomination to UNESCO WH Centre.

46. 3) UNESCO World Heritage Centre: • checks the nomination file; • send the nomination file to • ICOMOS (for cultural sites) or to • IUCN (for natural sites). • 4) ICOMOS and/or IUCN: • send experts to: • - evaluate protection & management of site • - prepare a technical report. • Check the Convention criteria • send the evaluation report incl. recommendations to WH Bureau

47. 5) World Heritage Bureau: • examines the proposal & recommendations • may ask for further information to State Party • 6) World Heritage Committee: • may ask for further information to State Party • refuses inscription or • inscribes the in the World Heritage List.

48. Nomination Criteria as per Convention and its Operational Guidelines

49. Natural criteria (Article 2 of the Convention): ”Natural features consisting of physical and biological formations or groups of such formations, which are of outstanding universal value from the aesthetic or scientific point of view; geological and physiographical formations and precisely delineated areas which constitute the habitat of threatened species of animals and plants of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation; natural sites or precisely delineated natural areas of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science, conservation or natural beauty."

50. Operational Guidelines: a natural site must fulfil one or several of the following criteria: Criterion 1: outstanding examples representing major stages of earth's history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features; • Example: Yellowstone NP (USA) • More geothermal features than the rest of the world combined (>300 geysers & >10000 other); • 27 fossil forests; • Abundance of pleistocene glaciation features.