Biosphere reserves play major role in combating climate change – UNESCO
Biosphere reserves can spur efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change as well as encourage increased use of renewable energy, according to a recent declaration adopted by a meeting backed by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Biosphere reserves can spur efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change as well as encourage increased use of renewable energy, according to a recent declaration adopted by a meeting backed by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Following a week of deliberations, the more than 800 participants adopted the Madrid Declaration, which underscores the “potential for action” of reserves to tackle challenges such as the loss of traditional knowledge, cultural diversity and arable land, as well as global warming.
It also calls for the establishment of a sustainable funding mechanism to reinforce the reserves, urging collaboration between UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere programme (MAB) and the agency’s other intergovernmental scientific initiatives.
Last week, Russia’s Rotowsky reserve and Mexico’s Marietas Islands joined UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves, bringing the global total to 531 reserves in 105 countries.