At its International Coordinating Council meeting from 12 to 15 June 2023 in Paris, France, the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) approved the designation of 11 new biosphere reserves around the world, four of which are in Africa.
Of the 10 new biosphere reserves designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), four are in Africa. These are the Korup Rainforest Nature Reserve in south-west Cameroon, the North-East Protected Area Complex in the Central African Republic (CAR), Rufiji-Mafia-Kibiti-Kilwa (Rumaki) in Tanzania, and Mount Elgon on the border between Kenya and Uganda.
The Korup National Park in Cameroon covers an area of 1,260 km² and is home to more than 400 species of tree, including aucistraladus korupensis, whose plants are used in medical experiments to combat cancer, as well as a fauna comprising 300 species of bird, 174 reptiles and 140 species of fish. The protected area is smaller than the Complex of Protected Areas in north-eastern CAR, which has become the hunting ground and artisanal exploitation area for some 80,000 local residents.
“The integration of new biosphere reserves into our network of 748 sites in 134 countries is more useful and necessary than ever. It is tangible proof that humanity can live in harmony with nature. Since 1971, this programme, driven by local communities, has succeeded in establishing a development model that promotes human well-being and respect for biodiversity”, says Audrey Azoulay, Director General of Unesco.
Sustainable development in focus
According to the UN organisation, the survival of these natural sites depends on the preservation of biodiversity, the balance of ecosystems and the fight against climate change. Indeed, biosphere reserves are essential for strengthening the livelihoods of local populations through the development of agro-ecology and renewable energy sources, among other things.
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“These areas will help countries to achieve the objectives set out in the Kunming Global Biodiversity Framework adopted by the Convention on Biological Diversity, held in December 2022 in Montreal, Canada. This includes 30% of terrestrial areas as protected areas and the restoration of 30% of degraded terrestrial ecosystems by 2030”, says the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, which has added Chad and Zambia to its network in 2022.
Benoit-Ivan Wansi
