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Biosphere Reserves

Biosphere reserves are an international designation under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s (UNESCO’s) Programme on Man and the Biosphere (MAB). They are areas of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems designated to promote solutions to reconcile the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use. The concept establishes a broad framework for promoting voluntary community engagement in ecologically sustainable development (ESD) and for achieving ESD across the landscape regardless of ownership. Biosphere reserves are places where approaches to conservation and sustainable development can be explored and demonstrated on a regional scale. They have three functions:

• conservation
• sustainable development
• logistic support (in the form of demonstration projects, environmental education and training, research and monitoring related to issues of conservation and sustainable development).

A biosphere reserve will contain:

• a core area (e.g. a national park) to give long-term legal protection to the natural environment
• a buffer zone where activities which do not hinder the conservation objectives may occur
• a transition area where sustainable resource management practices are promoted and developed through cooperative programs involving the local community and other stakeholders (the transition area would in many cases comprise freehold land and may include areas of major human intervention such as farming or urban development).

It should be noted that a biosphere reserve (a UNESCO term) is not a reserve in the legal sense (although the core area must be reserved for conservation purposes). Biosphere reserve designation does not alter the legal status of the land included within it. Biosphere reserves are not the subject of any treaty or international convention and there are no internationally legally binding requirements on countries or communities regarding their management. Participation by individual landowners in a biosphere reserve is voluntary and the success of a biosphere reserve will depend on the extent to which the local community, local government and associated businesses, organisations and other stakeholders support and involve themselves.

At December 2002 there were 408 biosphere reserves in 94 countries. Collectively they form a World Network which encourages the exchange of ideas, information and personnel. A biosphere reserve may be removed from the World Network at the request of the national government. Follow the link to find out more on the World Biosphere Network.

In Australia there are 12 biosphere reserves (all designated some twenty years ago, with one in South Australia being extended in the mid-1990s to form Bookmark Biosphere Reserve). Further information on Australian Biosphere reserves can be found at the Department of the Environment and Water Resources website.

Victorian Biosphere Reserves

In Victoria there are 4 Biosphere Reserves:

• The Croajingolong National Park was designated a Biosphere Reserve in 1977. The reserve of approximately 87,500 ha is situated in far east Gippsland, 430 km east of Melbourne. It extends as a wide tract of land along some 100 km of coast from Sydenham Inlet in the west to the New South Wales border in the east
• The Hattah-Kulkyne National Park and Murray-Kulkyne Park were designated as a Biosphere Reserve in 1981 in recognition of their outstanding natural values. The reserve of approximately 51,500 ha in total has river frontage to the Murray River
• Wilsons Promontory National Park was designated a Biosphere Reserve in 1981. The reserve of approximately 40,000 ha is the oldest existing national park in Victoria and is renowned for its spectacular coastal scenery
• The Mornington Peninsula and Western Port Biosphere Reserve was designated in November 2002. It is Australia's first Biosphere Reserve in more than 20 years and it has a combined area of 2,142 square kilometres, approximately one third of which covers coastal areas and the waters of Western Port. Additional information on the Mornington Peninsula and Western Port Biosphere Reserve can be found at the Mornington Penisula and Western Port Biosphere Reserve Foundation website.

Nominations

Nominations to create a Biosphere reserve must be endorsed by the State within which the nominated area is located and other authorities concerned such as local councils. Nomination forms are available on-line from the UNESCO website.

Nominations for Biosphere reserves within the State of Victoria must also comply with the State Government Policy on Biosphere Reserve Proposals.

Biosphere Reserves Proposals - State Government Policy (PDF - 12 Kb)